Federal Grant Puts Tribes on Track to Fast Internet Service
By Ronald Roach
WASHINGTON
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last month a $20 million technology grant for American Indian tribes in rural areas to bring high-speed Internet connections to several communities. The grant is funded through the department’s Rural Utilities Division.
The Coeur d’Alene tribe, which is receiving the largest grant at $2.7 million, plans to build a wireless broadband network supported by a tribal community technology center that will house computers and provide free access.
“If you do not educate your community to
the usage of the Internet and how that usage makes them better, then you only have a bunch of wires,” says Hilda Legg of USDA.
The tribes say they hope that having broadband networks will make them more attractive to businesses.
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