AIPI Policy Article: The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

Broadband is critical for Indian Country, but it is often unavailable. In 2019, the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) found that 18 percent of Tribal reservation residents have no Internet access, while 33 percent rely on smartphones for Internet service. According to the FCC, about 72 percent of people on Tribal lands have broadband access at the FCC benchmark of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Even where broadband is available, cost can be a barrier to access. It is crucial that Tribal communities have broadband access for education, work, and healthcare, all of which will be more accessible via the Emergency Broadband Benefit program (EBB).