ASG identifying businesses and homes lacking high-speed internet

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa will soon start its process of identifying homes and businesses that lack a high-speed Internet connection and are therefore eligible for grants from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This public process allows for eligible challengers to ensure that their state accurately reflects who does and does not have Internet access in their state or territory. 

The BEAD program is part of the federal government’s Internet for All initiative that aims to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which administers this grant program, allocated over $37 million to American Samoa to reach this goal. According to BEAD, the territory will use this funding to make grant awards to Internet service providers, cooperatives, and others who bid to build or upgrade Internet networks. 

This program builds high-speed Internet infrastructure where it is needed. It also supports efforts to teach the skills and provide the equipment needed so everyone can use the Internet.

The total allocated to Am Samoa is $37,564,827.53 with $150,000 of it going to a State Digital Equity Planning Grant through the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC) and $2,994,869 going to the American Samoa Community College. The CMC helps colleges and institutions that serve minority and Tribal communities.  There was no breakout of what the remaining funding is earmarked for.

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE PROCESS

The challenge process is a critical phase of the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. The process determines which locations and community anchor institutions in each state and territory are eligible to be served by BEAD funded networks.  

In this process, an eligible challenger (a unit of local government, nonprofit organization, or Internet service provider) may challenge a determination made by the state as to whether a particular location (home or business) or community anchor institution — such as schools or libraries — is served, underserved, or unserved with high-speed Internet service.  

NOTE: Individuals are NOT eligible to submit a challenge, however they can work with eligible challengers to provide information about the status of their home or small business. 

For more information contact:

Andrew Berquist, Territorial Broadband Coordinator, (684) 633-1184;

Herb Tyson, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, (202) 748-6962; or

Ethan Lake, Federal Program Officer, (202) 834-3746

BACAKGROUND

As part of the "Internet for All" initiative, a key component of President Biden’s "Investing in America" agenda, NTIA announced earlier the availability of more than $800 million nationally in funding from the Digital Equity Act’s State Capacity Program.  

American Samoa can apply to receive $2,100,000 to empower individuals and communities with the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to benefit from meaningful access to high-speed Internet.

"President Biden is committed to ensuring everyone in American Samoa and across America has access to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Commerce’s work building high-speed Internet infrastructure is only part of the equation. Families in American Samoa need the tools and skills required to make the most of that Internet connection, and that’s a $2.1 million opportunity, she said.

States, territories, and Native entities will use this funding to begin implementation of their digital equity plans. Through community collaboration, these digital equity plans outline a state or territory’s approach to empowering communities with equitable access and opportunities to adopt a high-speed Internet connection and develop essential digital skills to fully participate in society and the digital economy.   

The funding allocation was calculated based on a formula defined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The formula takes into account the relative population of the state (50%), the relative size of the covered populations residing in the state (25%), and the comparative lack of availability and adoption of broadband (25%).