The Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT) has awarded $25 million to cover the costs of building, improving, or acquiring facilities and equipment necessary to provide broadband Internet service in eligible rural areas such as Colorado. announced that it has formally accepted a USDA grant for the dollar. River Indian Reservation. CRIT leverages American Rescue Planning Act (ARPA) funds to provide the necessary cost-sharing to help complete the project.
The infrastructure, funded by a USDA $25 million grant, includes 191 miles of broadband internet at 876 locations on the Arizona side of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, with broadband internet capable of speeds of 50mbps, 100mbps and 250mbps. Includes fiber optic installation. The USDA formally announced the grant on June 12.
“CRIT is currently reviewing the grant agreement and beginning the administrative process. This will take time,” said Kim Stube, CRIT Tribal Administrator. “The project will be put up for tender with a target start date of early 2024. We also plan to apply for funding in the future to service the California side of the Colorado River Indian Reservation.”
CRIT Chairman Amelia Flores called the announcement a “game changer.”
“Broadband access is essential to meet the needs of the community,” she said. “Broadband access has a huge impact on our quality of life. This grant and CRIT’s commitment to using these funds wisely will support tribal services, tribal businesses, local schools, local hospitals, agriculture, and every aspect of tribal life that involves technology. It makes a big difference on the side.”
The exact locations of the 876 service points on the Arizona side of the river are not publicly available at this time.
In other infrastructure news, Verizon Wireless’ Upriver customers said they were unhappy with their service in the area. The La Paz County Supervisory Authority has approved zoning changes for new cell towers in February 2021. Getting his APS power to the base station took him nine months, with further delays due to public comments and other infrastructure issues.
