Cisco teamed up with MuralNet, a nonprofit organization that helps indigenous peoples build and operate their own broadband networks, to launch the Sustainable Tribal Network program, which seeks to bridge the digital divide for indigenous communities in rural areas across the U.S. 

Connectivity was always important, but COVID-19 has underscored the disparity between those with connections and the connection-less. Cisco and MuralNet's Sustainable Tribal Network program will give tribal communities the opportunity to deploy fixed-wireless access networks and eliminate dependency on privately provided broadband wireless access.

In 2017, after having a conversation about the homework gap on tribal lands, Martin Casado (who also co-founded Nicira) and Brian Shih co-founded MuralNet. With the help of colleagues and Silicon Valley IT do-gooders volunteering their expertise, MuralNet developed what is essentially a network-in-a-box that can hook up 25 homes for less than $15,000.

MuralNet approached Cisco in February, just ahead of the Tribal Priority Window opening, MuralNet CEO Mariel Triggs said. "We spoke about how this Tribal Priority Window would enable hundreds of tribes to build their own networks," she explained. "And while there would be unique challenges for each deployment, there was a lot we could do to help tribal communities prepare builds with equipment, core, and training."

After four months of ongoing conversation, Cisco and MuralNet set a plan to expand the outreach around the Tribal Priority Window. Now, the two parties are working together on the "designing, deploying and maintaining these networks so they can serve the tribes for decades," Triggs said. "Cisco is a true partner in this endeavor providing their network of expertise on the legal, technical, and business side, which we are thankful for."

Rural Tribal Priority Window

In July 2019, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to eliminate eligibility restrictions and education-use requirements governing Educational Broadband Service (EBS) spectrum 2.5 GHz licenses. The rule revision marked the first update to EBS requirements since 1998, and these earlier revisions were based on the use of analog video. 

Not only that, it also created a priority filing window — called the Rural Tribal Priority Window — giving tribal nations first dibs to apply for the unassigned 2.5GHz broadband access over their tribal land before auctioning off available airwaves to telecom providers including AT&T, T-Mobile, and other mobile carriers building out national 5G networks.

The airwaves up for grabs sit in highly coveted real estate in the middle of the radio spectrum that is primed for 5G networks because they travel miles penetrating walls, trees, and other objects – also making them ideal for rural communities.

This window ended Sept. 3 after lawmakers extended the original six-month period amid outcry that the pandemic has disproportionately excluded connection-less tribal communities from accessing digital resources. Of the 574 federally recognized tribal entities, the FCC said it received 121 applications that have been deemed complete and 384 incomplete applications. Applicants have until Sept. 23 to submit corrections.

The FCC said it will begin auctioning off any remaining unclaimed 2.5 GHz licenses in the first half of 2021.

Cisco, MuralNet Build Broadband Access to Remove Disparities

Broadband internet access is a proverbial lifeline for the millions of Americans affected by the digital divide. For indigenous communities — where poverty rates are twice the national average and the prevalence of chronic and debilitating health issues are dramatically higher than the nation as a whole — connectivity provides access to life-saving digital resources.

Internet access is the backbone to tools for tracking data and sounding the alarm for missing and murdered indigenous women, transmitting timely Amber Alerts, and providing resources for physical and emotional healing.

Yet, according to the FCC, 1.5 million people on reservations do not have basic wireless services, and 36% of housing units on tribal lands don’t have access to high-speed broadband at all. On non-tribal lands, this number is only 8%. 

Historically, national internet access companies have fallen short in bringing their services to people living on tribal lands. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said his “number one priority” since day one has been “closing the digital divide and bringing the benefits of the internet age to all Americans.” However, service providers have generally ignored rural communities. 

DIGITAL Reservations Act

According to Cisco’s 2020 Inclusive Future Report estimates, bringing internet access to unconnected corners of the world has the potential to lift 500 million people out of poverty globally.

And despite the FCC priority window closing, the legislative battles are just beginning to take shape. In June, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Deb Haaland introduced the Deploying the Internet by Guaranteeing Indian Tribes Autonomy over Licensing (DIGITAL) Reservations Act. If passed, it will grant tribal nations and native Hawaiian organizations total and permanent access to broadband spectrum licenses on their lands.

"Technology makes connectivity easier, but the problem is really about communication and collaboration between policymakers,  tribes and communities, the tech industry designers, and the businesses, providers, and system integrators that makes achieving this successful," Triggs said. "If we get these folks talking to each other and hearing each other, we’d bridge the digital divide within a couple of years."

Cisco's Internet for the Future

The Sustainable Tribal Network program is part of Cisco’s “Internet for the Future” strategy announced in December 2019.

Jonathan Davidson, SVP and GM at Cisco’s Mass-Scale Infrastructure group says the company has been “focused on connecting more people to more places and more things." By "transforming the economics of networking" and developing new methods to increase customers’ revenue, "[Cisco] will improve their cost structures and move one step closer to building an inclusive future for all," he wrote in a blog post.

Part of that strategy will see the company unveil its Rural Broadband Innovation Center, in Raleigh, North Carolina, this fall. The innovation lab will be used as a tool to illustrate the necessary steps in converging wireline and wireless infrastructure and services to deliver more affordable broadband networking accessibility.