Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2025)
Editor’s note: The Chairman’s Report will resume in a future issue of Siletz News. Tribe secures nearly $16 million to expand broadband access and affordability SILETZ, Ore. – The Confeder- ated Tribes of Siletz Indians proudly a n n ou n ces t wo m a jor b r oa d b a n d fun din g awards that will tran sform digital connectivity for Tribal m em - bers and surrounding com m unities: Cou n cil ch a ir m a n . “Th es e fu n d s will allow u s to con n ect h u n d r ed s o f u n s e r ve d h o m e s a n d in s t it u - tions, providing affordable broad- band that empowers learning, health and opportunity.” • 1. $3,359,260.35 from the Ore- gon Broadband Deploy - ment Grant (BDP) funded by The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Proj - ect Funds (CPF) to connect 81 unserved locations. 2. $12,527,649 from the NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) to: Highlights • Connect 31 unserved Tribal households. Serve nine Tribal anchor insti- tutions (schools, health care facilities and essential services). Extend service to 268 unserved non-Tribal households in sur- rounding areas. • • • 81 BDP Locations Connected: Through ARPA CPF-funded BDP, the Tribe will connect rural un served Tribal an d n on -Tribal hom es and businesses. 308 TBCP Locations Connections: NTIA TBCP funding will connect 31 Tribal households, nine Tribal an chor in stitution s, an d exten d broadband to 268 non-Tribal households. Middle-Mile Infrastructure: The TBCP grant will include the devel- opment of a 30-mile middle-mile fiber stretch to strengthen con- nectivity across the region. Affordability Commitment: The Tribe will offer monthly plans starting at $30 and adopt future state or federal affordability pro- gram s to ensure no household is left behind. • • • • Together, these awards represent a critical step in addressing long- standing digital inequities, enabling access to high-speed, reliable broad- band that will improve education, health care and economic opportuni- ties across the region. “Th is is a m om en t of tran sfor- m ation for the Siletz Tribe and our rural neighbors in the Siletz Val- ley,” sa id Delor es P igsley, Tr ib a l Key benefits of the broadband expansion Education: Reliable internet for st u d en t s, t ea ch er s, a n d a d u lt learners, enabling online educa- tion and digital literacy training. • Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $12 annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and m ail to Siletz News . Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Address: __________________________________________ Phone: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Change of address: Tribal members – contact the Enrollment Department at 541-444-8258; 800-922-1399, ext. 1258; or enrollment@ctsi.nsn.us. All others – call the newspaper office. Deadline for the February issue is Jan. 10. Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Please see the Passages Policy on page 20 when submit- ting items for Passages. Send information to: Siletz News P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 541-444-8291 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1291 Fax: 541-444-2307 Email: PIAS@CTSI.NSN.US 2 • Siletz News • January 2025 • Health care: Access to telehealth services, improving care for elders and rem ote Tribal m em bers. Economic Growth: High-speed internet will support businesses, a t t r a ct in vest m en t a n d cr ea t e local jobs. Affordability: A monthly broad- band plan starting at $30, with the Tribe committed to adopting future affordability programs to keep costs accessible. The projects will progress over the next four years in phases, starting with design, permitting and procure- m ent, followed by construction. This funding also lays the foundation for providing future services to local resi- dents who already have connectivity at an affordable price. These initia- tives underscore the Tribe’s ongo- ing com m itm ent to ensuring digital equity and fostering economic growth. Future updates will be posted on the Tribal website at www.ctsi.nsn.us. Additionally, the Tribe is awaiting notice for an additional $11.56 million in broadband infrastructure development through the USDA Rural Utility Service Reconnect Program and another $15 million in Digital Equity funding to help Tribal member households nationwide access and take full advantage of the latest broadband technology. For further information, please contact Lisa Norton, chief administra- tive officer, at lisan@ctsi.nsn.us. Need Rental Housing? The Siletz Tribal Housing Department encourages you to apply for the Low-Income Rental Program waiting list in Siletz (1-4 bedrooms) and Lincoln City (2-3 bedrooms – Neachesna Village). Applications can be obtained at any Tribal area office (Eugene, Salem, Portland, Siletz) or online from the Tribal website – ctsi.nsn.us; follow links – Tribal Services-Housing-Low Rent Apartments & Home Ownership. For any questions, call 800-922-1399, ext. 1322, or 541-444-8322 Fax: 541-444- 8313
