Gov. Katie Hobbs met with leaders from Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes Friday to discuss how to best leverage broadband expansion in their communities.
Arizona’s recently approved $17.8 billion budget includes $28 million for rural broadband expansion, some of which should help boost internet access on tribal lands.
It also includes $5 million for a program that makes internet access more affordable at schools and libraries.
The American Indian Policy Institute in 2019 estimated that nearly 20% of Tribal reservations in the U.S. have no internet access.