The Colorado River Indian Tribes is moving closer to having high speed internet now that ground has been broken on a project to install a fiber optic network.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place December 18th outside the CRIT offices. Chairwoman Flores, the Tribal Council, representatives from the USDA, and Ackerman Consulting were among the attendees.
A $25 million grant from the USDA ReConnect program is funding the project to connect CRIT to a high speed fiber optic network spanning 191 miles. The timeline for competition is about five years.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores says this is not the end of the process as CRIT will be seeking more grant money for continued improvements. Flores said, “What broadband will bring to us will strengthen our sovereignty. It will strengthen future generations.” Flores then picked up a handful of soil and proclaimed, “This is part of us, and we will be bringing the fibers (fiber optic cable) into our soil. Literally we will be bringing into our soil our sovereignty. We will have control of our digital future.”
CRIT Project Coordinator Thai Yang said, “In today’s digital world, reliable internet access is no longer a luxury it is essential for education, businesses, healthcare, and connecting with loved ones. With this broadband expansion we are addressing a critical need and insuring no one is left behind.”
The benefits of the fiber optic network and high-speed internet go well beyond live streaming movies.
It will also create a valuable new resource for tribal enterprises, help students of all ages get improved access to online educational resources, make it easier for tribal members to access critical telehealth services, just to name a few.
CRIT Vice Chairman Dwight Lomayesva said this was an historic day for CRIT, Councilmember Bobby Page said this is just the beginning of what can happen when everyone works together, Councilmember Jaymee Moore said it was her pleasure to help advocate for the Broadband Department, Councilmember Vanessa Welch said it took many years to get this point, CRIT Treasurer Josephine Talbo said this will bring new revenue to CRIT and help connect CRIT elders, Councilmember Billy Beeson said this project will open up the world to CRIT, and CRIT Secretary JD Fisher said the future will look bright for CRIT with this project.
