Navajo Broadband 2009 – 2013 Broadband on Navajo: a $60 Million Dollar Opportunity

NTUA Master Project Document

www.ntua.com/word%20and%20pdf%20files/Binder1.pdf

NAVAJO TRIBAL UTILITY AUTHORITY

Celebrating 51 Years of Providing Utilities to the Navajo Nation

For Immediate Release Date: March 25, 2010

Contact: Deenise Becenti – NTUA Public Affairs: 505-870-2043 deeniseb@ntua.com

Brian Gilbert – Commnet WirelessMobile: 928-660-9413 Email: bgilbert@commnetwireless.com

NTUA and Commnet Wireless receive multi-Million Broadband/Wireless Grant

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. – The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) has been notified that the “Navajo Nation Middle/Last Mile Project: Quality Broadband for the Navajo People” application will receive a $32.1 million grant though the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for a major broadband initiative.

In August 2009, NTUA submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to build a fiber optic network communications and microwave infrastructure throughout the central core of the Navajo Nation.

The overall project budget is approximately $46 million, which combines the NTIA grant award and a 30 percent matching contribution of $11.3.M from NTUA and $2.2 million from partner Commnet Wireless.

In the application, NTUA stated that the Navajo Nation, like most rural areas, faces considerable challenges regarding telecommunications services. While a number of initiatives have aimed to provide broadband on the Navajo Nation, access to the service remains almost universally absent.

“When looking at the broadband access map, the void in the southwest is predominately the Navajo Nation. With this project, we would fill a large portion of that gap,” said NTUA General Manager Walter Haase. “This will allow high quality reliable telecommunications service in the Navajo Nation and will enable information and communication flow throughout the region. This is a huge step forward in terms of high capacity connectivity.”

“When in place, the Navajo Nation will not be waiting to catch up with the rest of the country,” Mr. Haase said. “We will actually be an unparalleled and significant step ahead.”

The Navajo Nation Middle/Last Mile Project will be implemented in five (5) phases, which will extend over 530 miles. The construction plan includes installing 96 strands of aerial fiber optic cable and 33 new microwave tower sites. This undertaking amplifies NTUA’s existing microwave network to provide broadband access to 15,120 square miles of the Navajo Nation’s 27,000 square mile area.

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NTUA Middle/Last Mile Project Page Two 3-25-10

“This is significant for schools, hospitals, and chapters,” he said. “Physicians and health care personnel throughout the Navajo Nation will be able to utilize telemedicine and teleradiology services. Indian Health Service facilities in each community will be interconnected to enhance communication among health care providers, and to the outside world.”

“As for schools, our children and teachers will have access to the best internet technology possible. Navajo Nation Chapters and tribal communities will have a more reliable internet and broadband connectivity,” he said, adding that the accessibility to broadband is vital to the economic development, education, employment, and health and safety of the Navajo Nation.

Additionally, NTUA will be partnering with Commnet Wireless to provide last mile services via their 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. Through this 4G network NTUA will be able to service both fixed and mobile customers with high speed broadband access.

“Commnet Wireless feels honored to partner with NTUA and the Navajo Nation on the development of a 4G mobile broadband network for the largest underserved tribal region in the country,” said Lou Tomasetti, CEO of Commnet Wireless. “As an advocate for bringing enhanced wireless services to rural America it is a privilege to be a part of NTUA’s vision in providing affordable broadband to Navajo Lands.”

The project 4G LTE project itself, will initially provide fixed and mobile service to over 30,000 households (approximately 135,000 people) and 1,000 businesses in 15 of the largest communities on the Navajo Nation, including Window Rock, Shiprock, Kayenta, Chinle, and Tuba City. In addition, the project will provide high capacity connectivity on the combined middle-mile backbone to an additional 49 tribal communities.

“I would like to personally thank Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr., the Navajo Nation Council, and other tribal leaders for supporting the concept of this project,” said Mr. Haase, additionally expressing appreciation to the elected state governors, U.S. Senators and Members of Congress from Arizona, Utah and New Mexico for reinforcing the need for the project.

“Their leadership played a key role providing the U.S. Department of Commerce the understanding of the region and the fundamental need for this groundbreaking project,” he added. “Their support significantly increased our chances to build a communications infrastructure which will serve the needs of our people and the southwest region for generations.”

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About the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority is the largest multi‐utility company owned and operated by an American Indian tribe. NTUA, a non‐profit enterprise, was established in 1959 by the Navajo Nation Council to provide electricity, water, natural gas, wastewater treatment, and photovoltaic (solar power) services to residents throughout the 27,000 square‐mile Navajo Nation, which spreads across northern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah. Even as NTUA works hard to meet the basic utility needs of the Navajo Nation – the region continues to suffer from the lack of access to electricity and other basic infrastructure needs. For more information visit: www.ntua.com

About Commnet Wireless

Commnet Wireless (www.commnetwireless.com) is the nation’s leading provider of wholesale voice and data services to the wireless telecommunications industry. Commnet Wireless works in partnership with national and regional wireless operators to offer highly‐reliable, feature‐rich coverage in a variety of technical environments. We currently manage wireless networks in 14 states.

JANICE K. BREWER

GOVERNOR

NEWS RELEASE

CHAD KIRKPATRICK

DIRECTOR

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT MATT MORALES 602-364-4772

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

STATE OF ARIZONA GOVERNMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY

100 N. 15th Avenue, Suite 440 Phoenix AZ 85007

Governor Jan Brewer Announces Stimulus Broadband Infrastructure Award to Benefit Navajo Nation

Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) is awarded $32.2 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration

PHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer announced today that the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) has been awarded an approximately $32.2 million federal grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). This grant along with partial matching funds, will provide middle mile and last mile broadband infrastructure access to the Navajo Nation. Middle mile is the equipment and infrastructure that carriers the internet over longer distances, while last mile broadband carries internet to its final destination over shorter distances, directly to the home or business.

“This grant to the Navajo Nation’s Utility Authority will revolutionize broadband communications on the Navajo Nation,” said Governor Brewer. “This grant will deliver broadband internet, which will foster jobs, business development and new educational opportunities. This is a step forward in bringing the tools of economic prosperity to every corner of our state.”

This broadband project will benefit over 30,000 households and 1,000 businesses. Governor Brewer was an early endorser of the Navajo Nation’s Utility Authority’s grant application. The NTIA solicited the formal advice of the Governors of the fifty states as part of the overall broadband grant decision making process. Governor Brewer in her letter to the NTIA recommended the Navajo Nation Utility Authority’s grant.

“The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority grant received the highest recommendation in its category by the Arizona Broadband Advisory Committee (ABAC),” said Arizona State CIO Chad Kirkpatrick. “The Navajo Nation was identified as one of the areas in Arizona with the greatest need for broadband support. The plan was well thought out and well presented,” Kirkpatrick said. The ABAC Committee was assembled by Governor Brewer to provide insight and advice on over 100 broadband grant applications that could impact Arizona. For additional information see: http://www.broadbandusa.gov

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Phone: (602) 364-GITA