Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau
Friday, August 26, 2022
Gov. Steve Sisolak and Nevada’s Intertribal Council on Friday announced they have been awarded $18.9 million by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to expand Internet access to 11 tribal communities.
The money will pay for broadband infrastructure projects in Elko’s Indian colony, the Lovelock Paiute Tribe, Summit Lake Paiute, Timbisha Shoshone, Yerington Paiute, Yomba Shoshone Tribe and Washoe Tribe including the Carson Colony, Woodfords, Stewart and Dresslerville.
Sisolak said the last two years have clearly shown how important access to broadband Internet is for work, education, healthcare and civic participation. That inequity was exposed by the pandemic when it came to access and affordability.
The projects on the list will provide access to more than 3,000 tribal members and 972 homes and six tribal government buildings.
The council will contract with five broadband providers to do the infrastructure work that they say will be complete in a year.
Sisolak said an additional $2 million was awarded to do infrastructure work in the Walker River Paiute Tribe, Duck Valley Paiute Shoshone tribe, Ely Shoshone tribe and Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe.
Sisolak said the eventual goal is to provide universal access to high-speed Internet for all Nevadans.
