But is it helping?
Here’s an overview of the program and the progress made since its inception in 2021.
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What Is the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program?
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The initial investment in the TBCP was $980 million, which the government rewarded as grants.
After an immense response to the program, Congress made another $2 billion available to the fund.
The original conditions of the grants have also changed in light of the 280 applications for funding.
The current stipulations are:
How Many Grants Have Been Awarded So Far?
This technical imbalance can affect a variety of demographic groups, with a lot of overlap.
Some examples include:
A digital divide can develop due to several reasons.
One common one is a lack of infrastructure in a population area.
Similarly, supply-chain issues can create technological deserts.
How Does the Digital Divide Impact Native Americans?
A2013-2017 study by the U.S. Census Bureaurevealed some key disparities.
“Urban” describes an area with a population density of 1,000 people per square mile.
This study has five categories of populations, based partly on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’sRural-Urban Commuting Area Codes.
Has the TBCP Succeeded?
The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program has been a general, but only partial, success.
But the demand is higher than Congress originally planned.
FAQ
Realistically, the digital divide affects everyone.
Increasingly, education has a technological focus, including simply using the internet for research.
