Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Roundtable discussion on “Closing the Digital Divide in Native Communities through Infrastructure Investment”
Wednesday, January 12 2022 – 02:30 PM
Location: Dirksen
Room Number: 628
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a roundtable discussion titled “Closing the Digital Divide in Native Communities through Infrastructure Investment” to hear from Tribal leaders and Native-serving organizations on what more Congress can do to get Native communities connected.
In his opening statement, Schatz explained how strong federal investment in broadband infrastructure is helping Native communities close the digital divide.
“When it comes to … accessing the internet to bridge the digital divide, Native communities face specific challenges. High cost, especially remoteness, inadequate basic infrastructure, and the high cost of hardware continues to make this divide tougher in Native communities than really any other place,” said Chairman Schatz.
“That’s why Congress’s recent authorization sending billions of dollars to help Native communities invest in broadband infrastructure is simply a game changer,” said Schatz. “But we’ve got to get this right, and that’s why we want to hear from all of you.”
PANEL 1
The Honorable Manuel Heart
Chairman
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
Towaoc, Colorado
The Honorable William Smith
Alaska Area Representative & Board Member
National Indian Health Board
Valdez, Alaska
Walter W. Haase, P.E.
General Manager
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
Fort Defiance, Arizona
Carrie L. Billy
President & Chief Executive Officer
American Indian Higher Education Consortium
Alexandria, Virginia
Matthew Rantanen
Co-Chair, Subcommittee Technology & Telecommunications
National Congress of American Indians
Washington, DC
Donovan Kealoha
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Purple Mai‘a Foundation
‘Aiea, Hawaii
Hallie Bisset
Executive Director
Alaska Native Village Corporation Association
Anchorage, Alaska
Committee Notice:
https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/roundtable-discussion-closing-digital-divide-native-communities-through-infrastructure
