Bill Overview
Title: Tribal Connect Act of 2022
Description: This bill expands tribal access to the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support (E-rate) program, which provides discounted broadband internet access and telecommunications services to certain schools and libraries. It also establishes a pilot program to provide broadband internet access service to essential community-serving institutions (e.g., community centers) located on tribal land.
Sponsors: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Target Audience
Population: Native Americans living on tribal lands
Estimated Size: 1250000
- The bill aims to expand access to broadband internet on tribal lands, particularly focusing on educational institutions like schools and libraries.
- Besides educational institutions, essential community-serving institutions such as community centers on tribal lands are also targeted through a pilot program.
- Native American communities living on tribal lands, where such institutions are located, will be the primary beneficiaries.
- Improved broadband access will impact educational outcomes, access to information, and potentially economic opportunities for residents of these areas.
Reasoning
- The budget of $50,000,000 in the first year limits the number of institutions that can be reached immediately, likely prioritizing areas with the greatest need or poorest access.
- The policy is aimed at regions with systemic access deficits, meaning the impact may be more pronounced in underserved or remote tribal lands initially.
- Educational outcomes could see improvements as internet access improves school connectivity and resources.
- Economic impacts may take longer to materialize, though better internet access can aid in job searches or remote work.
- Given the large target population of Native Americans on tribal lands (approximately 1.25 million potential beneficiaries), individual impacts might vary based on proximity to newly connected institutions and personal circumstances.
Simulated Interviews
Elementary School Teacher (Navajo Nation, Arizona)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved internet access at the school is crucial for both teaching and learning.
- Currently, preparing lessons and providing students with online tools is very challenging due to slow internet.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Community Center Director (Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems promising as it would allow us to expand services at our center.
- Having better internet access could help community members in job training and education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Librarian (Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm optimistic about more kids having better access to online resources and homework help.
- This could be a big win for our community's education levels.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College Student (Yakama Reservation, Washington)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better internet would support my research and allow me to study more effectively from home.
- I currently struggle with connectivity issues for online classes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Healthcare worker (Hopi Reservation, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The improvement of internet access on our land would significantly impact patient care.
- Telemedicine could greatly benefit isolated elderly patients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Freelance Photographer (Wind River Reservation, Wyoming)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- High-speed internet access is necessary for my work to survive.
- I lose clients due to slow internet speeds when sending photos.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired (Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable broadband would make it easier for me to stay informed and connected with relatives.
- Currently, the connectivity is often unreliable during peak hours.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased internet access could help me grow my business by reaching more customers online.
- Currently, there's frustration over unreliable e-commerce transaction systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cultural Educator (Nez Perce Reservation, Idaho)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy empowers us to preserve our culture through online mediums, reaching more distant members.
- The current constraints limit our digital teaching capabilities significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
IT Support Specialist (Gila River Indian Community, Arizona)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy should greatly enhance our local network reliability and user experience.
- Frequent technical problems negatively impact productivity in both work and education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $55000000)
Year 2: $48000000 (Low: $43000000, High: $53000000)
Year 3: $46000000 (Low: $41000000, High: $51000000)
Year 5: $42000000 (Low: $37000000, High: $47000000)
Year 10: $35000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $40000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The availability and quality of broadband infrastructure on tribal lands may vary significantly, affecting implementation costs.
- This legislation's success heavily depends on collaboration with tribal governments and communities.
- Potential economic benefits might take years to fully materialize.