Tribal carrier Gila River Telecom endorsed consultant Alexicon’s proposal to...
Tribal carrier Gila River Telecom endorsed consultant Alexicon’s proposal to have broadband equipment categories included in high-cost loop support algorithms and to include middle-mile cost as a transmission cost (CD May 12 p11). The carrier said this in ex parte…
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notices posted to the Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation regime dockets. Gila River said about half of the residents on the reservation are unemployed and barely half have high school educations. “Approximately 84 percent of GRTI’s local telephone subscribers currently qualify for the Lifeline and Link Up programs, including 91 percent of GRTI’s elderly subscribers,” the group said. “Mobile wireless voice coverage is spotty in places through the Gila River Indian Community. In addition, 4G service is not available.” The telecom company said it’s delivering Internet service at a minimum speed of 1.5 Mbps for $52.90 per month. “The high cost of this service is due largely to GRTI’s high middle mile costs,” Gila River said. “The broadband adoption rate in the Gila River Indian Community is approximately 22 percent, which is higher than most other Tribal lands but significantly lower than the national average.”