News
An announcement from the NTIA says the agency is embarking on a new push to streamline tribal broadband programs.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
A new effort from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will seek to reduce bureaucracy around tribal broadband programs, a release from the agency said this week.
According to NTIA’s release, the agency’s efforts will focus largely reducing what they consider red tape. They’ll also attempt to streamline the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) “and the native entity set-aside from the Digital Equity Act.”
Currently, the Digital Equity Act is the subject of an ongoing legal fight.
Last month, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) announced they were suing to reinstate the Digital Equity Act Competitive Grant Program, which they allege was unconstitutionally cancelled.
Notably, President Donald Trump took aim at the Digital Equity Act months ago.
In a May social media post calling the act racist, illegal, and a $2.5 billion giveaway, Trump said he was ending the Digital Equity Act immediately.
The Digital Equity Act was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021.
Similarly, funding for the TBCP is owed to the passage of the from the IIJA and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, also passed in 2021.
‘NTIA’s goal is simple’
Officials at the NTIA are not rescinding any obligated awards, according to Wednesday’s release.
“NTIA will continue to award equitable distribution grants, but all further infrastructure and use and adoption grants will be awarded under the Trump Administration’s new rules,” the release stated.
The announcement, published Wednesday, said the NTIA plans to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the spring of 2026.
The NOFO will make an estimated $500 million remaining tribal broadband funds available, according to the release.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth said NTIA’s goal is simple.
NTIA wants to stretch every dollar as far as possible to achieve universal tribal connectivity, Roth said.
“This strategic realignment of our tribal grant programs will reduce administrative burdens, prevent duplication, and ensure consistency across NTIA’s broadband initiatives,” Roth said through comments included with NTIA’s release. “Most importantly, it will maximize the impact of this funding, helping to connect as many tribal households as possible.”
To date, NTIA has awarded $2.2 billion in TBCP funding.
“Through TBCP’s first NOFO, NTIA awarded more than $1.87 billion in funds,” the release stated.
In total, awards for the first TBCP NOFO were named for 226 projects, impacting more than 400 tribal nations, NTIA’s release said.
“NTIA’s second TBCP NOFO has awarded $360 million in funds across 48 projects.”
NTIA also says they’ll soon be announcing a formal avenue to allow tribal governments the ability provide input on the next funding round.
