U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan and two of his congressional colleagues are pushing for the Government Accountability Office to study the current state of communication services in Native American communities.
Lujan, Democrat Anna Eshoo of California and Republican Don Young of Alaska sent a letter to the GAO this week. They say the digital divide persists perhaps nowhere more so than on tribal lands.
More than a decade ago, federal officials identified tribal lands as having less access to telecommunications services than any other segment of the population.
Lujan and the others say nearly one-third of households on tribal lands still lack basic phone service today and broadband availability in Indian Country is virtually nonexistent.
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