Bill Overview
Title: DIGITAL Reservations Act
Description: This bill grants Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations exclusive rights to all available or unlicensed electromagnetic spectrum over their tribal lands and prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from taking specified actions related to spectrum licenses over tribal lands. It also requires the FCC to establish a fund to support tribal access to broadband and telecommunications services.
Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: Native Americans and Native Hawaiians
Estimated Size: 9115500
- The bill affects the electromagnetic spectrum rights over tribal lands, which are owned by Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations.
- It potentially impacts all members of those tribes and organizations by providing them autonomy over spectrum licensing.
- The creation of a fund to support tribal broadband and telecommunications service access is likely aimed at improving connectivity for tribal communities.
- The legislation could lead to more accurate representation and needs-based services for these populations.
Reasoning
- The DIGITAL Reservations Act primarily targets tribal lands, granting exclusive rights to spectrum and supporting broadband access for tribal communities.
- The policy is likely to significantly impact residents of tribal lands by increasing their autonomy over telecommunications infrastructure.
- It may lead to enhanced connectivity, fostering educational opportunities and business development in tribal areas.
- The policy has a limited budget but aims to address accessibility issues over a span of ten years, potentially yielding long-term benefits.
- While the immediate impact may focus on improving telecommunications within the tribes, secondary effects may include economic empowerment and cultural preservation.
- Conversely, people outside these communities may not experience a direct impact unless they engage in business or governmental activities related to tribal lands.
Simulated Interviews
School Teacher (Navajo Nation, Arizona)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to reliable internet has always been a challenge for us.
- This policy could be a game-changer for education in our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Telecommunications Analyst (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a move in the right direction, but execution will be key.
- Ensuring these funds are used effectively is crucial.
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 | 8 | 6 |
Freelance Artist (Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Current internet issues limit my ability to expand my business.
- This policy could increase my access to online markets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Telecom Executive (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having witnessed telecom development, I know autonomy leads to better suited solutions.
- The fund should be closely monitored for efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Policy Analyst (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Empowering tribes can lead to self-determined technological advances.
- However, sustained oversight is essential to see long-term benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Healthcare Administrator (Sacramento, California)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Boosting broadband access is crucial for telehealth expansion in tribal areas.
- This could improve healthcare outcomes 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 | 7 |
Environmental Scientist (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable internet will support research data collection and communication with remote communities.
- It's an important step forward.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Entrepreneur (Boise, Idaho)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Expanding broadband is essential for business growth on reservations.
- I'm hopeful about the potential business impacts.
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 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
IT Support Technician (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved connectivity will benefit IT support and infrastructure development vastly.
- It could enhance privacy and autonomy in tribal communications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Professor of Indigenous Studies (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Autonomy in telecommunications is a significant stride towards tribes' sovereignty.
- Monitoring the policy's implementation and outcomes will be crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $55000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $47000000, High: $57000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $49000000, High: $59000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $53000000, High: $63000000)
Year 10: $65000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $70000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The exclusivity of spectrum rights can influence market dynamics and may require negotiation with existing license holders.
- Implementation of broadband services might face geographic challenges on diverse and remote tribal lands.
- Coordination with state and local governments will be necessary to optimize the legislative impacts and avoid jurisdictional conflicts.
- The fund established by the FCC will need proper oversight to ensure equitable distribution and effective use among a wide range of tribes.