Window Rock, Arizona, serves as the capital of the Navajo Nation. Photo: Ben FrantzDale

The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2021

Nez-Lizer commend the FCC’s approval of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to provide low-income families with subsidies for internet service

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer commend the action taken by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, to adopt and establish the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which was funded through a $3.2 billion appropriation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which was approved by congress to enable eligible households, including tribes, to receive a discount on the cost of broadband service and certain connected devices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program will provide eligible households with discounts of up to $50 a month for broadband service, and up to $75 a month if the household is on tribal lands. It also will provide a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households.

On Feb. 12, Vice President Lizer participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the FCC to gather input and recommendations to help with the establishment of the program. He spoke about the vast needs for telecommunications improvements to provide broadband services for families, students, tele-medicine, first responders, and many others. 

“The subsidies will be very beneficial for Navajo families who are eligible. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the need for broadband connectivity to meet the needs of our students, teachers, first responders, elders, and others. Vice President Lizer’s advocacy during the roundtable discussion was certainly influential in the FCC’s establishment of the program. Under the leadership of Navajo Nation Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Office Executive Director Christopher Becenti and the Commission members, our administration continues to advocate for the permanent designation of FCC’s 2.5GHZ spectrum, which was temporarily assigned to the Navajo Nation during this pandemic,” said President Nez.

Through CARES Act funding, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority completed 139 broadband installations and capacity upgrades to existing broadband equipment and constructed four new broadband/cell phone towers. On Feb. 11, the Nez-Lizer Administration also announced that Navajo Nation secured $53 million in funding through the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate Program, to install over 600 miles of fiber optic lines that will expand internet capacity for 90 chapter houses and 53 Head Start facilities on the Navajo Nation. 

“Our administration is working together with many partners and we are making great progress in expanding broadband coverage for our Navajo people. I appreciate the FCC members for hosting the roundtable discussion and incorporating our input into the creation of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. With another federal relief bill being considered by congress, we are optimistic that we will be able to coordinate and complete more broadband improvements and new projects,” stated Vice President Lizer. 

The FCC’s website states, “The Commission’s Lifeline program provides qualifying low-income households discounts on voice or broadband Internet access service, as well as on bundled service.  Consumers can qualify for the Lifeline program by participating in a qualifying assistance program (i.e., Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), or Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit) or by having an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  Residents of Tribal lands can also qualify for the Lifeline program by meeting the aforementioned criteria or by participating in a qualifying Tribal-specific federal assistance program.”

The Nez-Lizer Administration continues to work together with local, state, and federal partners to increase broadband opportunities for the Navajo Nation. For information about the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.

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