Frequently Asked Questions

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Digital sovereignty means your tribe controls three critical things: the physical infrastructure (cables, towers, equipment), the data flowing through your network, and the decisions about how everything operates.

Think of it like tribal gaming. When your tribe owns the casino, you control the games offered, hire your own staff, protect customer information, and keep the profits. Digital sovereignty works the same way—you own the network, make the technology decisions, control community data, and build tribal capacity instead of depending on outside companies.

Outside providers often deliver the minimum service required by their contract, not what your community actually needs. They control pricing, upgrade schedules, and service priorities. More importantly, your tribal data flows through their systems.

When you own your network, you decide when to upgrade, where to expand service first, and how to price services for your community. Tribal-owned networks typically provide better service at lower cost because profits stay in the community and tribal members operate the system with community needs as the priority.

The honest answer: it depends completely on your tribe's specific situation. A small tribe connecting government buildings might need $500,000. A larger tribe building fiber to every home might need $15-25 million.

Cost factors include:

• Geographic size and terrain (mountains cost more than flat land)

• Number of locations to connect

• Whether you already have infrastructure you can use

• Technology type (fiber costs more up front, lasts 20+ years)

• Whether you can train tribal members to do installation work

This is why the first step is always a proper assessment. We help tribes understand their actual costs before making decisions.

Most tribal broadband projects are funded through federal programs specifically designed for tribal infrastructure. Your tribe typically doesn't pay for the entire network out of tribal funds.

Current federal funding sources include:

• Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) - NTIA

• BEAD Program (state-administered federal dollars)

• BIA Telecommunications programs

• USDA Rural Development grants

• State tribal broadband programs

Many tribes combine federal grants with tribal enterprise funds or economic development resources. The key is knowing which programs your tribe qualifies for and how to write competitive applications.

When you use an outside provider's network, all your internet traffic flows through their equipment and systems. This means they can see what websites tribal government accesses, what data gets transmitted, and where information travels.

For most commercial websites, this might not matter. But for sensitive tribal information—health records, law enforcement communications, cultural resources, member data, business information—having that data pass through non-tribal systems creates security and sovereignty concerns. With a tribal-owned network, your data stays on tribal land under tribal control, and only tribal-authorized people can access network information. 

That skepticism is healthy and earned. Many consultants treat tribes like any other rural customer, don't understand tribal governance, or push specific vendors who pay them.

Here's what makes us different:

• Lived Tribal Leadership: Our founder serves as Co-Chair of a California tribal rancheria—we don't just advise tribal governments, we serve in one

• Vendor-Independent: We don't sell equipment or services. We help tribes evaluate options and choose what works best for their situation

• Respect Tribal Process: We understand that Tribal Council approval comes first, and every tribe's governance process is different

• Build Tribal Capacity: Our goal is helping tribes run their own networks, not creating dependence on consultants

We work for the tribe, not for equipment companies or service providers. 

From initial planning to operational network typically takes 18-36 months, but this varies significantly based on several factors:

Planning and Funding Phase (6-12 months):

• Network design and engineering

• Grant applications and federal approval

• Tribal Council review and approval

Construction Phase (8-18 months):

• Equipment ordering (can take 6+ months)

• Physical installation of cables and towers

• Testing and system setup

• Workforce training

Northern tribes face additional challenges due to short construction seasons (typically May-October only). Missing a construction season means waiting an entire year before work can continue. 

The best first step is a comprehensive assessment that answers three critical questions:

• What infrastructure do you already have? (Existing cables, towers, rights-of-way can significantly reduce costs)

• What does your community actually need? (Government buildings only? Tribal homes? Enterprise buildings?)

• What funding sources match your situation? (Some programs work better for certain tribes)

A proper assessment typically takes 2-4 weeks and costs far less than making wrong assumptions about what your tribe needs or what it will cost. This assessment becomes the foundation for grant applications, Tribal Council presentations, and implementation planning.

We offer free initial consultations to help tribal leaders understand if a comprehensive assessment makes sense for their community.

Before signing any agreement with internet providers or vendors, your tribe should get clear answers to these sovereignty protection questions:

• Who owns the infrastructure after installation? (Cables, towers, equipment)

• Where is our tribal data stored and processed?

• Who has access to information about our internet usage?

• What happens to the equipment if we end the contract?

• How many tribal members will be trained to operate the network?

• What jurisdiction governs disputes? (Should be tribal court)

• Can we upgrade or expand the network on our own timeline?

If a vendor can't answer these questions clearly, or if the answers don't protect tribal sovereignty, that's a red flag.