Silver State Times

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is providing the State of Nevada with an $18.9 million grant for internet access expansion throughout the state’s tribal communities.

An announcement was recently made by the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) and Gov. Steve Sisolak that 11 tribal sites would receive the money, a press release from the governor’s office said. 

“In the past two years, we have seen plainly and repeatedly just how important equitable access to high-speed, reliable internet and a connected device is for work, education, healthcare, and civic participation,” Sisolak said in the release. “We cannot and will not leave any community behind as we work to close the digital divide. I am proud that my Office of Science, Innovation and Technology partnered closely with the ITCN to successfully submit for these funds.”

The State revealed that the following tribes would receive funds from the NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Fund Program: the Lovelock Paiute Tribe; Summit Lake Paiute Tribe; Timbisha Shoshone Tribe; the Elko Band Indian Colony; Yerington Paiute Tribe; Yomba Shoshone Tribe; and Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, including the Carson Colony, Woodfords, Stewart and Dresslerville areas.

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a huge equity concern when it came to access to affordable and reliable internet service,” Deserea Quintana, executive director of the ITCN, said in the release. “Nevada tribal members lacked access to critical emergency updates, public safety announcements, telehealth services, telecommuting solutions, and remote learning opportunities. This funding will significantly improve the quality of life for our tribal members and is long overdue.”

The program will provide more than 3,000 tribal members with consistent, inexpensive, high-speed internet.

“We were honored to assist the Tribal governments to apply for this grant and know the resulting infrastructure will greatly benefit each tribal community,” Brian Mitchell, director of the Office of Science, Innovation and Technology, said in the release. “We’re grateful for our partners at ITCN, the NTIA, and the provider community for their support of this important project.”