Reservation to be wired for Internet

PLUMMER - The Coeur d'Alene Tribe was awarded $12.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to construct a broadband network that will provide high-speed Internet access for the rural communities and surrounding areas on the reservation.

The fiber to the home project calls for miles of fiber-optic lines to be installed in Plummer, Worley, Tensed and DeSmet.

"This is awesome news for everyone living on the reservation," said Coeur d'Alene Tribe Chairman Chief Allan.

"The broadband project will have a profound impact on all residents of the Coeur d'Alene reservation."

The project will provide services to anchor institutions and critical community facilities and roughly 3,800 un-served and underserved households on the reservation - both tribal and non-tribal members alike, said Valerie Fast Horse, the Tribe's information and technology director.

"We have a rare opportunity to build one of the first fiber-to-the-home networks of this scale in the region," said Fast Horse. "True economic development must involve revitalizing the human spirit of our communities. It is our hope that by lighting up the reservation with a fiber optic network we will spark our most creative minds and encourage the knowledge-based economy we've been striving to develop."

The Tribe expects to start work on installing fiber optic lines in the coming months.

The telecommunication funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Tribe will receive half of the money through a grant and the other half will be loaned to the Tribe.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced selection of 22 broadband infrastructure projects to give rural residents in 18 states or territories on Wednesday.

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe's selection is one of the first Native American tribes to receive broadband funding and was the only application in Idaho to be funded.

"These broadband projects will provide rural America access to the tools it needs to attract new businesses, educational opportunities and jobs," Vilsack said.