{"id":3797,"date":"2020-10-23T09:08:21","date_gmt":"2020-10-23T14:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=3797"},"modified":"2020-10-29T09:16:30","modified_gmt":"2020-10-29T14:16:30","slug":"federal-communications-commission-announces-tribal-priority-licenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/23\/federal-communications-commission-announces-tribal-priority-licenses\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal Communications Commission announces tribal priority licenses"},"content":{"rendered":"
FCC GRANTS FIRST LICENSES IN 2.5 GHZ RURAL TRIBAL PRIORITY WINDOW<\/div>\r\n
Licenses Granted to 154 Tribal Applicants for Prime Mid-Band Spectrum to Close Digital Divide and Enable Advanced Wireless Communications, Including 5G<\/div>\r\n
Friday, October 23, 2020<\/div>\r\n
Source: Federal Communications Commission <\/div>\r\n
fcc.gov<\/a><\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nWASHINGTON, October 23, 2020 — The Federal Communications Commission this week issued the first set of spectrum licenses through the agency\u2019s first-of-its-kind Rural Tribal Priority Window to Tribal entities across the country. The FCC\u2019s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau formally granted 154 applications for use of the 2.5 GHz band to close the digital divide and provide broadband and other advanced wireless services, including 5G, to rural Tribal communities.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cThis is a major step forward in our efforts to close the digital divide on Tribal lands,\u201d said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. \u201cFew communities face the digital connectivity challenges faced by rural Tribes. By prioritizing Tribal access to this mid-band spectrum, we are ensuring that Tribes can quickly access spectrum to connect their schools, homes, hospitals, and businesses. Having visited many of these communities and met with Tribal leaders, I have seen first-hand the connectivity difficulties facing Native Nations. I am exceedingly pleased that\u2014less than a year after we announced the timeline for the Rural Tribal Priority Window\u2014we are now distributing 2.5 GHz band licenses to help Tribal communities bridge the digital divide.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThese licenses provide for exclusive use of up to 117.5 megahertz of 2.5 GHz band spectrum that can be used by Tribes to connect their communities. During the priority window, the Commission received over 400 applications to obtain overlay licenses for unassigned 2.5 GHz band spectrum to help address Tribes\u2019 connectivity needs. FCC staff continues to review and process all applications filed in the priority window; more information on application processing and status may be found at fcc.gov\/ruraltribalwindowupdates<\/a>. \r\n

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This week, @FCC<\/a> issued the first set of #spectrum<\/a> licenses to Tribal entities across America through the agency\u2019s new Rural Tribal Priority Window. https:\/\/t.co\/TRy2QiaRQ3<\/a> #FCCGov<\/a><\/p>— The FCC (@FCC) October 23, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>