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
Updated March 30, 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
the effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Set-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 Round 2 of 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 for Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth
ReConnect Broadband Pilot Program (Department
Program established under the CARES Act. On March 30,
of Agriculture)
2021, the FCC adopted the rules to establish Round 2; the
application window is expected to open by the end of April
The CARES Act appropriated $100 million for grants to
2021.
RUS under the ReConnect broadband pilot program.
Federally recognized Indian tribes are eligible for this
Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program
program. The application window for these funds closed in
(National Telecommunications and Information
April 2020.
Administration)
The CAA, 2021, appropriated $285 million to the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) for the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot
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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
Program. The program is to provide grants to eligible
health monitoring, including remote options, in response to
recipients for the purchase of broadband service or any
the COVID-19 public health emergency. Of the $10 billion
eligible equipment, or to hire and train information
appropriation, $100 million is to be paid in equal shares to
technology personnel. Tribal colleges and universities are
tribal governments and the State of Hawaii, of which not
among the eligible recipients for this program.
less than $50,000 is to be paid to each tribal government.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (Federal
Rural Health Care Pilot Grant Program
Communications Commission)
(Department of Agriculture)
The CAA, 2021, appropriated $3.2 billion to the FCC for
The ARPA appropriated $500 million for a pilot grant
the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which
program for rural health care at USDA. Federally
subsidizes broadband service for eligible households,
recognized Indian tribes are an eligible entity, along with
defined as households that suffered income loss during the
other public bodies. While this is not a broadband program,
pandemic or that meet other specified need-based criteria.
eligible grant activities include increasing telehealth
The FCC may reimburse broadband providers up to $50 for
capabilities, including health care information systems.
service to each eligible household on nontribal lands, and
$75 for service to each eligible household on tribal land to
Telehealth Support Program (Department of
offset the cost of providing standard-rate internet service.
Health and Human Services)
The ARPA appropriated $140 million to the Secretary of
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (National
Health and Human Services for information technology,
Telecommunications and Information
telehealth infrastructure, and the Indian Health Service
Administration)
electronic health records system.
The CAA, 2021, appropriated $1 billion to the NTIA for the
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. Tribal
Emergency Connectivity Fund (Federal
governments, tribal colleges and universities, the
Communications Commission)
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, tribal organizations,
The ARPA appropriated $7.171 billion to the Emergency
and Native corporations may apply and use the grant funds
Connectivity Fund at the FCC to reimburse schools and
for the following:
libraries for providing free broadband service (and
connected devices) to students at their homes. The term
broadband infrastructure deployment;
“eligible school or library” means an elementary school,
affordable broadband programs;
secondary school, or library (including a tribal elementary
distance learning;
school, tribal secondary school, or tribal library).
telehealth;
digital inclusion efforts; and
Proposed Legislation
broadband adoption activities.
On March 11, 2021, Representative Frank Pallone
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
introduced the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s
America (LIFT) Act (H.R. 1848); on March 22, 2021, the
The ARPA provided tribal entities with funding for
House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing
homeowners, recovery assistance, capital projects needed to
on the bill. Among other provisions, the LIFT Act would
respond to COVID-19, health care, schools and libraries,
provide $109.3 billion to expand nationwide access to
and home broadband service for students.
broadband, including for tribal entities. Specifically, the bill
Homeowner Assistance Fund (Multiple Agencies)
would provide
The ARPA appropriated $9.961 billion to the Homeowner
$80 billion to extend broadband access nationwide by
Assistance Fund, in which internet service charges are
funding internet services in unserved and underserved
eligible for support, among a number of other qualified
rural, suburban, and urban areas;
expenses. The fund has a 5% tribal set-aside (about $500
$15 billion for the deployment and implementation of
million).
Next Generation 9-1-1 services that would allow callers
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund
to send text messages, images, or videos to 9-1-1 in an
(Department of the Treasury)
emergency;
$5 billion in low-interest financing available to finance
The ARPA appropriated $219.8 billion to the Coronavirus
broadband deployment by eligible entities; and
State Fiscal Recovery Fund at the Department of the
$9.3 billion to make broadband available and affordable.
Treasury, in which funding could be used for a variety of
purposes, including broadband infrastructure. Of the
amount appropriated, $20 billion is to be set aside for
Patricia Moloney Figliola, Coordinator, Specialist in
payments to tribal governments.
Internet and Telecommunications Policy
Colby Leigh Rachfal, Analyst in Telecommunications
Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (Department of
Policy
the Treasury)
Alyssa R. Casey, Analyst in Agricultural Policy
The ARPA appropriated $10 billion to the Coronavirus
Brian E. Humphreys, Analyst in Science and Technology
Capital Projects Fund for making payments to states,
Policy
territories, and tribal governments to carry out critical
capital projects directly enabling work, education, and
IF11795
https://crsreports.congress.gov
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
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11795 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED