Heinrich Touts Tribal Connect Act, Smith Files Community Connect Grant Program Bill

like S-2205 is aimed at broadband projects in rural and tribal communities. S-2205 would “steer much-needed federal investments" to close the digital divide "in rural and tribal communities," Heinrich said. The bill would establish a pilot program that would allow designations of tribal communities without libraries as an “anchor institution” eligible for USF E-rate funding. It also would provide training to help tribes implement E-rate and direct the FCC to work with tribes to develop E-rate eligibility requirements for their libraries. Smith's bill would codify the Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service's Community Connect Grant Program into law and increase internet speed service under the program. Heinrich tied S-2205 into Hill lawmakers' broader push to develop broadband-related bills aimed for inclusion in a broader infrastructure bill responding to President Donald Trump's February proposal, which urges streamlining the permitting process and includes $200 billion in funding (see 1802110001 and 1802120001). E-rate “spurs the development of broadband networks in underserved communities,” Heinrich said. But the program's current requirements and application process don't “reflect the unique infrastructure challenges and needs in Indian Country,” which has made it difficult for tribes to qualify. FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn didn't endorse S-2205 during the event but pushed for efforts to increase tribal eligibility and participation in E-rate as a way of closing the digital divide, noting that “broadband investment is critical infrastructure investment which is increasingly determining which city, county, town or tribal nation thrives or not.” ALA “wholeheartedly supports” S-2205, said President Jim Neal.