March 26, 2021
COVID-19 Response: Broadband Funding for Tribes, Tribal
Colleges and Universities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the
Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service
Three recent enacted laws that, in whole or in part, address
Coronavirus Relief Fund, Tribal Governments Set-
the effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Aside (Department of the Treasury)
pandemic provided both direct and indirect broadband
The CARES Act appropriated $150 billion to the
funding for American Indian tribes, tribal colleges and
Coronavirus Relief Fund, with $8 billion reserved for tribal
universities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of
governments. Funds are to be used to cover only those costs
Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service
of the state, tribal government, or unit of local government
(collectively, “tribal entities”). They are:
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and incurred between
March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020 (e.g., costs related
the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
to compliance with COVID-19-related public health
(CARES) Act, P.L. 116-136;
measures, COVID-19 testing, disinfecting public areas).
Division N of Title IX of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA, 2021), P.L. 116-260;
COVID-19 Telehealth Program (Federal
and
Communications Commission)
the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), P.L. 117-2.
The CARES Act appropriated $200 million to the COVID-
19 Telehealth Program at the Federal Communications
This In Focus lists major broadband programs funded by
Commission (FCC). The program was established to help
these three laws as well as potential additional funding in
health care providers offer telehealth services to patients at
subsequently proposed legislation.
their homes or mobile locations in response to the COVID-
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
19 pandemic, including health care providers located in a
Security Act
rural area on tribal lands, associated with an Indian tribe, or
part of the Indian Health Service. The program supports the
The CARES Act provided tribal entities with funding for
purchase of telecommunication equipment, information
internet access, distance learning, and telehealth services.
services, and connected devices. The FCC stopped
Institute of Museum and Library Services
accepting applications for the initial round of program
funding on June 25, 2020; the CAA, 2021, appropriated an
The CARES Act appropriated $50 million to the Institute of
additional $249.95 million for the program.
Museum and Library Services to prevent, prepare for, and
respond to COVID-19, including grants to states, territories,
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
and tribes to expand digital network access, purchase
Division N of the CAA, 2021, provided tribal entities with
internet accessible devices, and provide technical support
approximately $3.7 billion funding for two broadband grant
services.
programs, as well as an emergency benefit program to
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program
reduce individual payments for broadband services.
(Department of Agriculture)
Additional information on these programs is available in
CRS Report R46701, The Consolidated Appropriations Act,
The CARES Act appropriated $25 million to the Rural
2021 Broadband Provisions: In Brief.
Utilities Service (RUS) of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) for the Distance Learning and
COVID-19 Telehealth Program (Federal
Telemedicine Program. Federally recognized Indian tribes
Communications Commission)
are eligible for this program. The application window for
As noted above, the CAA, 2021, appropriated an additional
CARES Act funds closed in July 2020.
$249.95 million to the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth
ReConnect Broadband Pilot Program (Department
Program established under the CARES Act.
of Agriculture)
Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program
The CARES Act appropriated $100 million for grants to
(National Telecommunications and Information
RUS under the ReConnect broadband pilot program.
Administration)
Federally recognized Indian tribes are eligible for this
The CAA, 2021, appropriated $285 million to the National
program. The application window for these funds closed in
Telecommunications and Information Administration
April 2020.
(NTIA) for the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot
Program. The program is to provide grants to eligible
recipients for the purchase of broadband service or any
eligible equipment, or to hire and train information
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COVID-19 Response: Broadband Funding for Tribes, Tribal Colleges and Universities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the
Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service
technology personnel. Tribal colleges and universities are
appropriation, $100 million is to be paid in equal shares to
among the eligible recipients for this program.
tribal governments and the State of Hawaii, of which not
less than $50,000 is to be paid to each tribal government.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (Federal
Communications Commission)
Rural Health Care Pilot Grant Program
The CAA, 2021, appropriated $3.2 billion to the FCC for
(Department of Agriculture)
the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which
The ARPA appropriated $500 million for a pilot grant
subsidizes broadband service for eligible households,
program for rural health care at USDA. Federally
defined as households that suffered income loss during the
recognized Indian tribes are an eligible entity, along with
pandemic or that meet other specified need-based criteria.
other public bodies. While this is not a broadband program,
The FCC may reimburse broadband providers up to $50 for
eligible grant activities include increasing telehealth
service to each eligible household on nontribal lands, and
capabilities, including health care information systems.
$75 for service to each eligible household on tribal land to
offset the cost of providing standard-rate internet service.
Telehealth Support Program (Department of
Health and Human Services)
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (National
The ARPA appropriated $140 million to the Secretary of
Telecommunications and Information
Health and Human Services for information technology,
Administration)
telehealth infrastructure, and the Indian Health Service
The CAA, 2021, appropriated $1 billion to the NTIA for the
electronic health records system.
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. Tribal
governments, tribal colleges and universities, the
Emergency Connectivity Fund (Federal
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, tribal organizations,
Communications Commission)
and Native corporations may apply and use the grant funds
The ARPA appropriated $7.171 billion to the Emergency
for:
Connectivity Fund at the FCC to reimburse schools and
libraries for providing free broadband service (and
broadband infrastructure deployment;
connected devices) to students at their homes. The term
affordable broadband programs;
“eligible school or library” means an elementary school,
distance learning;
secondary school, or library (including a tribal elementary
telehealth;
school, tribal secondary school, or tribal library).
digital inclusion efforts; and
broadband adoption activities.
Proposed Legislation
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
On March 11, 2021, Representative Frank Pallone
introduced the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s
The ARPA provided tribal entities with funding for
America (LIFT) Act (H.R. 1848); on March 22, 2021, the
homeowners, recovery assistance, capital projects needed to
House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing
respond to COVID-19, health care, schools and libraries,
on the bill. Among other provisions, the LIFT Act would
and home broadband service for students.
provide $109.3 billion to expand nationwide access to
Homeowner Assistance Fund (Multiple Agencies)
broadband, including for tribal entities. Specifically, the bill
would provide—
The ARPA appropriated $9.961 billion to the Homeowner
Assistance Fund, in which internet service charges are
$80 billion to extend broadband access nationwide by
eligible for support, among a number of other qualified
funding internet services in unserved and underserved
expenses. The fund has a 5% tribal set-aside (about $500
rural, suburban, and urban areas;
million).
$15 billion for the deployment and implementation of
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund
Next Generation 9-1-1 services that would allow callers
(Department of the Treasury)
to send text messages, images, or videos to 9-1-1 in an
emergency;
The ARPA appropriated $219.8 billion to the Coronavirus
$5 billion in low-interest financing available to finance
State Fiscal Recovery Fund at the Department of the
broadband deployment by eligible entities; and
Treasury, in which funding could be used for a variety of
$9.3 billion to make broadband available and affordable.
purposes, including broadband infrastructure. Of the
amount appropriated, $20 billion is to be set aside for
payments to tribal governments.
Colby Leigh Rachfal, Coordinator, Analyst in
Telecommunications Policy
Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (Department of
Alyssa R. Casey, Analyst in Agricultural Policy
the Treasury)
Patricia Moloney Figliola, Specialist in Internet and
The ARPA appropriated $10 billion to the Coronavirus
Telecommunications Policy
Capital Projects Fund for making payments to states,
Brian E. Humphreys, Analyst in Science and Technology
territories, and tribal governments to carry out critical
Policy
capital projects directly enabling work, education, and
health monitoring, including remote options, in response to
IF11795
the COVID-19 public health emergency. Of the $10 billion
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COVID-19 Response: Broadband Funding for Tribes, Tribal Colleges and Universities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the
Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11795 · VERSION 1 · NEW