1. AMERIND Critical Infrastructure Tribes Bringing Tribes Broadband
Great Lakes Indian Housing Association Meeting
November 28, 2017

2. Current State of Broadband on Tribal Lands
Today, less than 32% of Tribes have access to high-speed Internet, also known as “broadband”
Service providers, such as CenturyLink, have chosen not to build out their networks to the high cost and sparse populations in Indian Country
The result: High prices for slow Internet
Why does the Tribal digital divide persist?
Tribes lack the capacity and experience in managing the massive federal subsidies that have greatly reduced the digital divide in other parts of rural America
Tribes lack access to capital to match federal subsidies

3. Why Broadband?

4. Annual Program Budgets
FCC Subsidy Programs
Annual Program Budgets
$2.25B
* The FCC is proposing to reduce this amount and impose a funding cap *
$4.5B
$3.9B
$400M

5. Community Broadband Planning Identify anchor institutions
Engage the stakeholders
Community assessment
Connectivity goals

6. E-rate Connecting the Community
High-speed broadband to schools and libraries at discounts of up to 90%
Service to and within schools and libraries
Discount based on poverty (eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program)
Opportunity to leverage those connections to other anchor institutions and the community at large

7. Understanding E-rate
Eligibility: Schools, libraries, and some Head Starts
Category 1: Internet (service to
the school/library)
Category 2: Managed wireless, network equipment (service
within the school/library)
New! E-rate supports special fiber construction

8. Building Networks Backbone
E-rate subsidizes fiber optic backbone (special fiber construction)
Applicants (schools or libraries) pay undiscounted portion (match)
Example:
- 90% school or library
- Requirement: 10% match
- Match-on-the-Match: If 5% comes from Tribal, state, or federal source, E-rate will pay an additional 5%
 100% discount for school/library

9. Leveraging Fiber for the Whole Community
Anchor Institutions
Eligible extra capacity
Additional fiber strands
Additional conduit
Applicants (schools or libraries or Tribes) pay out-of-pocket for extra capacity
Can be used to connect anchor institutions or anything else

10. Leveraging Fiber for the Whole Community
Homes
Last mile connections (wired or wireless)
Low-income households on “rural” Tribal lands can receive Lifeline phone and broadband discounts

11. Leveraging Fiber for the Whole Community
Health Care
Telemedicine
Rural Health Care Program discounts broadband access for clinics
Healthcare Connect
Fund fiber construction discounts

12. Leveraging Fiber for the Whole Community
Economic Development
Tribal radio
Fiber to the tower
Streaming online
Valuable economic asset for Tribes
Job creation
Bringing and keeping jobs in the community

13. Rural Health Care Increased Access Leading to Better Health
High-speed connectivity to Tribal hospitals and clinics
Health care provided directly to Tribal homes and communities via telemedicine
Benefits – personal and financial – of staying in the community
Improved quality of health care to Tribal communities

14. Rural Health Care New Opportunities
Healthcare Connect Fund provides subsidies
for broadband infrastructure to Tribal hospitals
and clinics
65% discount for rural health care facilities
35% match required from applicant
Includes community mental health centers, mobile clinics, and skilled nursing facilities (2017)

15. Lifeline Connecting People
More affordable telephone and broadband service for low-income households on “rural” Tribal lands
Monthly discount of up to $34.25 off the cost of telephone and Internet bills
Household qualification based on participation in certain social service programs (BIA General Assistance, Tribal TANF, FDPIR, Medicaid, SNAP, etc.)
The FCC recently re-defined Tribal lands for the purposes of Lifeline eligibility – without consulting with Tribes – and limits Tribal Lifeline to areas it defines as “rural”

16. Lifeline Connecting People Become an Eligible Telecommunications
Provider (ETC)
Tribes provide broadband to their own communities
Ensure that eligible households qualify, sign up, and maintain service
Keep dollars circulating in Indian Country

17. Economic Development Full-Power Commercial Radio
Benefits of Tribal ownership
Public safety
Culture and language preservation
Job creation
Valuable economic asset

18. Economic Development New Opportunities Radio Tribal Priority
Tribal ownership
Tribal lands coverage
Tribal community
Tribal first service
Obtain construction permits without competition from non-qualified applicants

19. How can AMERIND Critical Infrastructure (ACI) Help Tribes Bring Tribes Broadband?
Strategic planning for sovereign Tribal broadband deployment
Broadband subsidy, grant, and loan application management
Regulatory management and compliance
Social impact funding

20. ACI Assists Tribes in Building
Tribal Economies
The creation and continued growth of Tribally owned and operated telecom and broadband providers spurs Tribal economies
Tribal ownership brings enhanced broadband services to the community
The result:
Better broadband choices and services for homes, businesses, and Tribal anchor institutions
Profit stays local and improves economic well-being in Indian Country

21. ACI Helps Tribes Bring and Keep Dollars in Indian Country
Broadband subsidy, grant, and loan programs bring federal dollars to Tribal communities
ACI’s social impact funding helps Tribal applicants meet federal matching requirements and supplies another source of infrastructure financing
The result:
Broadband investment in Tribal communities brings improved education, health care, and community development

22. Advancing Tribal Voices
ACI Supports Tribes In
Advancing Tribal Voices
Tribally owned and operated broadcast radio stations and online media enhance preservation of Native culture and language
Tribal radio enhances public safety by ensuring that local Tribal news and content is broadcast
The result:
Stronger, safer Tribal communities

23. AMERIND Critical Infrastructure: Broadband Builds Tribal Communities