The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $11.7 million to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians to expand high‑speed internet access in rural Lincoln County, Ore., the agency announced. The funding comes through USDA Rural Development’s ReConnect Program, which supports broadband deployment in areas that lack reliable service.
The project will build a fiber network serving households south of Siletz, Fruitvale west of Toledo and homes along Yaquina Bay Road and Hidden Valley Road. USDA officials said the investment is intended to help rural residents access education, health care and economic opportunity.
The tribe said it expects the investment to improve access to telehealth, education, employment and business activity while helping build a workforce capable of maintaining the infrastructure.
“This investment strengthens our ability to serve our people,” CTSI Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Norton said. “It helps us build the capacity needed to sustain this system for the future.”
The grant is the latest in a flow of federal dollars toward getting Indian Country online. Separately, applications for the third funding round of National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program remain open until Nov. 17.
