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.”
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Please see the Passages
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Send information to:
Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
541-444-8291 or
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Fax: 541-444-2307
Email: PIAS@CTSI.NSN.US
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Siletz News
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January 2025
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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