The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the Department of Commerce is recommending nine applications for awards, totaling approximately $6.5 million, under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). These Equitable Distribution awards are designed to accelerate broadband connectivity for Tribal communities nationwide, consistent with the program’s authorizing legislation.
“NTIA remains committed to maximizing the impact of our Tribal funding by streamlining programs, reducing red tape, and empowering Tribes to pursue solutions that fit their needs,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth.
Roth added that the awards align with NTIA’s efforts to bring “universal connectivity across Indian Country.”
NTIA held Tribal Consultations with tribal leaders on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and will meet with them again on Tuesday, Jan. 20. These consultations provide Tribal representatives with an opportunity to engage directly with NTIA as it prepares to restructure its Tribal broadband programs, ensuring that future funding opportunities reflect Tribal needs and views.
In November 2025, NTIA said it is working on reforms to improve the efficiency and flexibility of its Tribal broadband programs. These reforms will streamline the TBCP and the native entity set-aside under the Digital Equity Act through a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), further supporting Tribal access to broadband resources.
Visit NTIA’s BroadbandUSA website for more information on the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program and upcoming consultation sessions.
The TBCP is a $3 billion program, from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, to support Tribal governments bringing high-speed Internet to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and broadband adoption initiatives. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, originally funded TBCP, providing $1 billion. In response to the overwhelming need, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided an additional $2 billion.
About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus on expanding broadband internet access in America, maximizing spectrum use for all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring the internet remains an engine of innovation and economic growth.
Applicants and Projects
| Applicant | Location | Funding Amount | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dena’ Nena’ Henash | AK | $2,500,000 | Complete four fully engineered, environmentally permitted, and shovel-ready Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network designs. |
| Pueblo of Laguna | NM | $500,000 | Support construction of a designated section of the Tribe’s planned Network Operations Center (NOC). |
| Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma | OK | $499,603 | Conduct a strategic analysis of broadband service areas in Oklahoma to plan improved broadband infrastructure and coordinate with state and other broadband efforts. |
| Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes | OK | $496,003 | Provide access to high-speed internet through a hybrid fiber and wireless broadband network for Community Anchor Institutions serving the Tribal community. |
| Barona Group of the Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians | CA | $500,000 | Facilitate access to affordable broadband services for members of the Barona Indian community. |
| Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians | OK | $499,222 | Conduct a strategic analysis of broadband service areas to assess and plan improved broadband infrastructure for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe region. |
| Seldovia Village Tribe | AK | $500,000 | Facilitate access to home networking equipment (including CPE hardware) and affordable broadband services for Tribal members. |
| Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) | MA | $500,000 | Facilitate access to home networking equipment, including Broadband Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). |
| Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel | CA | $500,000 | Create an engineering plan and permitting analysis for a future Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) project. |