February 02, 2022

Wyden, Merkley: Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Earn $500,000 in Federal Broadband Funds

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians have earned $500,000 in federal funds for work on planning activities for broadband infrastructure connection, construction, and service deployment.

“Tribes in Oregon and nationwide need modern and reliable broadband connections so that schoolchildren can learn, small businesses can buy and sell goods, and everybody can have access to tele-health,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians has earned these federal funds to begin the planning needed to get broadband to all its members. And I’ll keep battling to provide broadband resources to all tribes as a key piece of the ongoing work to reverse a tragic centuries-long legacy of destructive U.S. government policies toward tribes.”

“Far too often, tribal reservations are burdened by limited broadband infrastructure, which impacts the success of small businesses and students’ ability to succeed in schools,” said Merkley. “I am pleased to see federal funding go towards improving broadband connectivity for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and I will continue to fight for resources that connects every Oregonian to stable and dependable broadband services.”

The $500,000 for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians will use their grant for a planning study to develop a solution for broadband infrastructure connection, construction, and service deployment to unserved Native American households, businesses, and community anchor institutions.

“The grant funds will allow the tribe to start a network of planning activities to develop a solution for broadband infrastructure in the greater Siletz area,” said Tribal Chair Delores Pigsley.  “The planning will address broadband connection, construction, and service deployment for currently unserved Native American households.  We appreciate getting the funds and thank the senators for addressing this need.”