The Cherokee Nation in eastern Oklahoma plans to leverage a nearly $34 million federal grant to build 240 miles of new fiber backbone in the area it serves in the state.
The Broadband Infrastructure Development project, funded with an award of $33,946,876.75 will result in the installation of fiber and wireless technology directly connecting 5,899 unserved Native American Households with 100/200 Mbps wireless service.
Between the fiber and telecommunications towers, the project will bring connectivity to unserved communities in Adair, Delaware, Mayes, Cherokee, and Sequoyah Counties, according to Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin.
“While there are broadband service providers within the Cherokee Nation Reservation delivering quality connectivity, we still have far too many Cherokee citizens in our rural tribal communities that are being left behind and not being served,” Hoskin said.
The project builds on existing efforts such as distributing hotspots to Cherokee citizens in need, drive-up wi-fi locations, and hiring a digital navigator to guide renewed broadband installation planning.
In addition to bringing Cherokee citizens online, the project will support ongoing language- preservation programs by bringing connectivity and community to areas with high concentrations of native Cherokee speakers, according to Hoskin.
“While there are broadband service providers within the Cherokee Nation Reservation delivering quality connectivity, we still have far too many Cherokee citizens in our rural tribal communities that are being left behind and not being served,” Hoskin said.
“Historically, these are communities with a high concentration of Cherokee speakers and as we are rebuilding our language efforts, providing service applications online, and keeping our citizens more engaged electronically, these funds will be crucial to help us continue to close the digital divide.”
Source: Tribal Business News