Wheeler Focused on Tribal Broadband, He Tells Senators
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler sought to reassure Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and other Capitol Hill Democrats of the agency’s attention to broadband access on tribal lands. Cantwell led a July 15 letter pressing for Wheeler’s completion of “comprehensive Tribal reforms”…
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by year’s end. “To the extent that funds are available within the current universal service program, we urge you to repurpose them to accelerate investment in broadband on Tribal Lands,” the Democrats said. Wheeler discussed such tribal overhaul at his Sept. 15 Senate Commerce Committee hearing and pledged to Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., a signer of Cantwell’s letter, that he would complete such tribal-focused changes by the end of football season (see 1609150058). The FCC “has adopted initiatives to drive investment in mobile broadband on Tribal lands,” Wheeler told lawmakers in a letter released this week. “For example, in 2014 the FCC's Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I reverse auction made up to $50 million in one-time funding available to Tribal lands to accelerate mobile broadband availability. In addition, both the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I and the general Mobility Fund Phase I made a 25 percent bidding credit available for Tribally-owned or controlled providers seeking support. As a result, 72 different Tribal Lands will benefit from both the Mobility Fund Phase I and Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I auctions. In addition, staff is actively examining a mechanism to award ongoing support to Tribal lands through Mobility Fund Phase II.”