A guide to internet resources for Native Americans

The digital divide refers to the gap between those who have high-speed internet and those who don’t, and nowhere is that gap wider than on American Indian land.

According to the FCC, around 628,000 Tribal households — roughly 36% of Tribal households nationwide — don’t have access to broadband speeds of 25 Mbps. For comparison, the same is true for just 8% of non-Tribal households. Another study from the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) found that 18% of reservation residents don’t have home internet at all. 

The federal government has made significant investments to help close this gap, such as the $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. But, for most Indigenous communities, access is still the primary roadblock. 

Unfortunately, that disparity highlights the digital divide as it relates to Native Americans: Even when the government allocates funds to connect Native Americans, the infrastructure often isn’t there for many to take advantage of. 

In this guide, we’ll walk through tribal government funding programs, options currently available to Native Americans for saving on their internet bill where internet is actually available, plus some resources for improving broadband access on Tribal lands. 

Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is a $3 billion program directed to tribal governments to be used for broadband deployments on tribal lands. The funding also focuses on telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability and digital inclusion.

Most of the program’s funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the $65 billion federal investment in broadband infrastructure deployment. The $42.45 billion BEAD program is another major broadband deployment program created with IIJA funding.

As of April 2024, more than 160 applications have been submitted for the program’s second funding round. So far, the program has provided over $1.8 billion in Tribal broadband funding.

Who qualifies for the Tribal Broaband Connectivity Program?

Eligble entities for Tribal Broadband Connectivitiy Program funding inclide:

• A Tribal government
• A Tribal college or University
• The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on behalf of the Native Hawaiian Community, including Native Hawaiian Education Programs
• A Tribal ogranization
• An Alaska Native Corporation

Source: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

Lifeline: Up to $34.25/mo. off phone or internet

Many Indigenous people can also take advantage of Lifeline’s enhanced Tribal benefit. The federal benefit typically provides $9.25/mo. to low-income consumers for phone or internet services, but it’s increased to $34.25/mo. for anyone living on Tribal lands.

You’ll have to qualify through income guidelines (135% of federal poverty guidelines) or any of the following federal assistance programs: 

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
• Tribal Programs (and live on federally-recognized Tribal lands)
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
• Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

You can take advantage of both the EBB and Lifeline at the same time, although you’ll still have to apply for each one separately. 

Tribal Link Up

In addition to the monthly Lifeline benefit, people living on Tribal lands can also get up to $100 off installation fees when setting up broadband service. This is a one-time benefit per address, but you can use it any time you move. For installation costs up to $200, Link Up also provides a no-interest payment plan for up to a year. 

Learn more about Lifeline’s Tribal benefits

Other resources for Native Americans

In addition to these government-funded subsidies for phone and internet service, there are a number of other resources available that can help close the digital divide for Indigenous Americans. Click the links below to learn more:

• Database of government programs for American Indian and Alaska Natives 
• The American Indian Policy Institute’s Tribal Broadband Resources hub, which includes information on federal grants to Tribal nations for broadband projects
• The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
• The Pew Charitable Trusts’ state broadband policy explorer shows you broadband funding and laws by state 
• Digital Inclusion Resources for State and Tribal Human Service Leaders from the Administration for Children & Families
• Community guide to advocating for better broadband services

Explore internet provider programs

As of 2024, the Affordbale Connectivity Program (ACP) ended, which provided free and discounted internet to millions of eligble Americans. Many internet service providers (ISPs) paticipated in the program and offered cheap internet plans that would often result in many recieving free internet through the ACP.

Although the ACP has ended, many ISPs have their own internet assistance programs that can provide affordbale internet for qualifying households in need. Explore various internet assistance programs from top ISPs below:

• Optimum Advantage Internet – Internet speeds up to 50 Mbps for $14.99/mo.
• Access from AT&T – Speeds up to 100 Mbps for $30.00/mo.
• Cox Connect2Compete – Up to 100 Mbps for $9.95/mo. for families with children.
• Mediacom Connect – Up to 100 Mbps for $28.99/mo.
• Spectrum Internet Assist – Pricing varies
• Xfinity Internet Essentials – Speeds up to 50 Mbps for $9.95/mo.

Learn more about program qualifications in our low income internet guide.