Only 8 tribes of 550 own or operate telecom companies

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

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RAPID CITY, S.D. —When will tribes fully be able to fully engage in owning broadband/Internet companies? So far, only eight tribes in the Unites States own and operate telecommunications company, leaving an estimated 90 percent of Indian lands without broadband access, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office 2006 report.

I’m here at the Indian Telecommunications Initiative Workshop and Round Table Discussion here in Rapid City where experts are discussing broadband access in Indian Country. Eric Jensen, policy advisor to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said the technology gap in Indian Country is endangering the lives of Native people. To wit: On the Navajo Reservation, 6 of 10 people arent’ able to call 911 because the service doesn’t exist for them, said Jensen.

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Meanwhile, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a law that allocates $7.2 billion to expand broadband access to rural and unserved areas in the U.S. The application deadline is Aug. 15.

Jodi Rave

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