The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced it has awarded grants totaling nearly $5 million to 10 Tribes as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians is one of three California Tribes that will benefit from this current grant.

The $500,000 Broadband Use and Adoption project grant will offset the costs of increasing internet service speed to 314 Tribal households for five years through a contract with Frontier Communications of America Inc. This will enable Tribal members to actively participate in distance learning activities, work remotely, and access needed telemedicine services.

Steven Nino, Chief Information Officer for Soboba’s Information Technology department, said, “Modern-day internet access has become an essential infrastructure component, allowing access to information and services beyond the Soboba Indian Reservation. This powerful tool allows for continued education, job opportunities, telemedicine and much more.”

During the pandemic, when online learning was the only option for all students, Soboba Tribal members were at a disadvantage due to the limited internet speeds it had at the time. This made it difficult for students to access educational content online and slowed down the education process as physical packets were often issued in place of online assignments due to poor bandwidth speeds.

Many Tribal members have online businesses that rely on communication to coordinate logistics and overall brand awareness. The limited internet speeds have hampered their progress as well.

With the new Broadband Use and Adoption project grant, the existing bulk residential Frontier fiber infrastructure will be leveraged to open up the bandwidth gateway for all residential areas. It will also ensure that all Tribal member residents on the reservation will obtain free services for the next five years for the baseline service.

As this grant was submitted in April of 2022, the number of households requesting to be served by this grant was determined by the number of households at the time and projected construction of houses to take place in 12 months’ time (to April of this year).

“The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians is thrilled to have been selected for the NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program,” Nino said. “These funds will allow Soboba to continue its agreement with Frontier in order to provide Soboba residents with a base internet speed of 50/50Mbps in addition to one wireless router per household. Additionally, FiOS offers a next generation, state-of-the-art fiber network that provides connection speeds greater than many others currently. This grant award will ensure Soboba is afforded all online services and opportunities.”

With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these new grants bring the total of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program to over $1.77 billion awarded to 157 Tribal entities. Record investments in high‐speed internet deployment are a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. These grants from President Biden’s Internet for All initiative will help reduce monthly Internet service costs, plan for future internet infrastructure investments, upgrade network equipment, and purchase devices.

“Internet access is an essential tool – whether it’s accessing vital telemedicine, running a business, or finishing homework,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “The Biden Administration is closing the digital divide on Tribal lands, and this new funding will make an enormous difference in Tribal communities.”

Another important aspect of this unprecedented funding comes from Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson. “Tribal communities have a wealth of culture and knowledge to share with the world,” he said. “These grants will expand affordable and reliable high‐speed internet service for Tribal households across the U.S. This connectivity will help Tribes preserve traditions and fully participate in the modern digital economy.”

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Soboba connects to more thanks to $500,000 grant appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The Soboba Department of Public Services, located on the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Reservation, recently received a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Inc. for some top-of-the-line safety equipment.

Soboba Tribal Administrator Michael Castello said the nearly $15,000 in funding will be used to purchase items for the department’s 25 public safety officers. Highly reflective safety vests and high-powered flashlights are just two of the things that each officer will be given to enable them to be even better equipped in performing their 24/7 duties.

The grant award was celebrated at the Beaumont Marketplace Firehouse Subs on Nov. 22. The Singh family are franchisees for several locations of the popular food chain. The locally facilitated event is based on the foundation’s belief that everyone should contribute to the safety of its own community.

A portion of all purchases at Firehouse Subs restaurants goes to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation plus there are other ways customers can contribute at each restaurant including purchasing a five-gallon pickle (utility) bucket. The nonprofit coordinates with local franchisees in presenting the awards to applicants in their regional communities.

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was founded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The restaurant’s co-founders, Chris and Robin Sorensen, traveled to Mississippi where they fed first responders as well as survivors. As they traveled back to Florida, where they are headquartered, they realized there was more they could do and started the foundation.

Its mission is to impact the lifesaving capabilities and the lives of local heroes and their communities through the provision of lifesaving equipment and prevention education. Since the foundation started, it has granted more than $46 million to helping hometown heroes throughout the United States, and in Puerto Rico and Canada, do their jobs better.

Firehouse Subs area representative Jim Fick said he was proud to be part of an event that arms first responders with equipment that helps make them and their communities safer.

“More than $1.1 million in grants have been awarded to agencies in California alone since 2012,” Fick said. “We are proud to be celebrating one of those today.”

Soboba DPS Manager Brian Herritt also teaches safety prevention at the Soboba Reservation’s tribal preschool and Noli Indian School for grades six through 12.

“Safety is everything and this grant allows us to be better prepared,” he said.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: Grant Supports Soboba dps

The post GRANT SUPPORTS SOBOBA DPS appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.