Bipartisan infrastructure law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly provides $499,997.06 to the Tohono O’odham Nation for high-speed internet services
WASHINGTON – $499,997.06 will be invested to deploy broadband connectivity across the Tohono O’odham Nation in Southern Arizona from the bipartisan infrastructure law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.
The grant was awarded through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which Sinema and Kelly’s infrastructure law significantly bolstered to help ensure more tribal communities have fast, affordable broadband access.
“Today’s investment in broadband services from our infrastructure law helps close the digital divide in Arizona by delivering affordable, high-speed internet to the Tohono O’odham Nation. I’ll keep working side-by-side with Arizona communities to ensure the funds we secured are implemented efficiently and effectively,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law.
“This investment will make sure Tohono O’odham homes, schools, and small businesses have access to the affordable, reliable high-speed internet they need to be connected in today’s digital world,” said Kelly.
The nearly $500K investment from Sinema and Kelly’s law will be used for a planning, engineering, feasibility, and sustainability study – including purchasing inside and outside fiber optic cable and equipment.
The senators’ infrastructure law makes historic investments in repairing and upgrading America’s critical infrastructure, deploying high-speed broadband, expanding broadband internet access, and helping families afford broadband service.
Sinema and Kelly’s law makes internet more affordable and requires internet providers to offer a low-cost option to receive federal broadband deployment funding. Following passage of the infrastructure law, the Federal Communications Commission established the Affordable Connectivity Program using the funding Sinema and Kelly secured to help Arizonans access affordable internet. The program provides eligible families $30 a month toward their internet bills and $75 a month toward internet service in tribal areas.
Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and senators from both parties.
The bipartisan infrastructure law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.