14 Digital Divide and Indigeneity

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, readers will be able to:

• understand how the digital divide affects Indigenous communities, including access to high-speed internet and technology hardware;
• define the middle mile and last mile; and
• identify ways state, local, and Tribal libraries can provide access.

The Long, Rural Road: Driving Toward Digital Equity in Indigenous Communities

In the 21st century, it is easy to assume everyone has equal access to something as simple as the internet. However, this is not the case. This chapter will explore the digital differences Indigenous communities in the United States face.

Due to Western Expansion and colonization, Indian Country in the United States is spread across 334 reservations in 35 states and 100 million acres of land (Delmar, 2023). Therefore, while this chapter may refer to Indigenous peoples as one whole group, it is important to recognize there are 574 federally recognized Native nations who may all have different digital needs. Dr. Traci Norris, the executive director of the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI), brings attention to the difficulty Native Americans face when it comes to access to broadband.

YouTube Video: “Digital Inclusion Training Preview: Tribal Broadband Overview”

Considering the vastness of Native nations that share geography with the United States, bridging the digital divide is a tremendous task. Research has shown repeatedly that Indigenous communities have less internet access, slower internet speed, and higher internet prices than surrounding areas which creates a barrier to achieving digital equity.

Many Miles to Go—How Wide is the Digital Divide in Indigenous America?

A key aspect of the digital divide is the lack of access to high-speed internet. Here are some key data points demonstrating some of these issues:

• 18% of reservation residents have no internet at all (“Exploring the Lack of Internet Access,” 2023)
• 49% of reservation residents with no internet were using land-based internet (Morris & Howard, 2019)
• Download speeds are 75% slower on Tribal lands (“Exploring the Lack of Internet Access,” 2023)

Looking at these statistics together, it’s clear that access to high-speed internet is not increasing as much as it needs to be for Indigenous communities, leading to greater digital inequality.

But Wait! It’s Not Just about Broadband?

High-speed internet is a large part of the digital divide, but lack of technology hardware is also a contributor. The AIPI study found that 33% of people living on reservations rely on smartphones to access the internet rather than computers. Many websites and programs are not mobile-friendly, so people relying on smartphones to access the internet cannot do so to its full capacity. Connectivity is also an issue with 31% of residents reporting spotty connection or no connection at all at home (Morris & Howard, 2019).

Rural Broadband + Poverty = The Expensive “Middle Mile”

Some of the greatest obstacles to internet access are poverty and living in rural areas. These factors greatly affect Indigenous communities. Internet costs are 11% higher for Indigenous communities than for the public. This is largely because service providers are charging extra to provide internet to smaller, more rural communities like reservations (“Exploring the Lack of Internet Access,” 2023). A 2016 survey found that 26.2% of Native people live in poverty. Therefore, around a quarter of the Native community may be relying on free services, which are often less available in rural communities. This is where public libraries and other organizations come in.

Bridging the Middle Mile: How Libraries & Advocacy Are Helping Close the Gap

Getting expensive rural broadband services to remote reservations and communities has complex challenges. Native nations have varying relationships with their state and local surroundings. Jurisdictional issues often complicate the administration of programs intended to serve them. Federal funds administered through state-run systems can be held up by administrative conflict (Delmar, 2023). Thus, addressing the digital divide’s impact on Indigenous communities requires multi-pronged efforts.

State, local, and Tribal libraries combat the digital divide by providing free public broadband to local users. Public library systems enjoy the benefit of federal “e-rate” laws that reduce costs, but, until recently, Tribal libraries were not eligible for these rate reductions. By January 2022, advocates including the American Library Association, American Indian Policy Institute, and Institute of Museum and Library Services had pressured the Federal Communications Commission to allow Tribal libraries to qualify for e-rate broadband pricing. This has allowed Tribal libraries to provide free broadband access to more Native users (Schwayder, 2020).

With the use of Internet2’s Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit, Tribal libraries like Jemez Pueblo Community Library and Archives in New Mexico were able to improve their broadband internet for library users (Landgraf, 2022).

Libraries also work toward digital inclusion for Indigenous communities by administering grant-funded programs to expand broadband access (Ford, Slaughter, Neal, & Clark, 2024). COVID-19 era legislation drove significant expansion in federal funding driving what is referred to as a “Digital New Deal” for Native communities (National Digital Inclusion Alliance, 2023). A wide range of grants funded at the federal, state, and local levels are administered to meet local needs in Indigenous and other underserved populations.

The Last Mile: Toward Indigenous Digital Sovereignty

Academic and policy organizations also advocate for digital inclusion and sovereign autonomy for Indigenous communities in the United States. Arizona State University’s American Indian Policy Institute recently announced the launch of the Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty (Liese, 2024). The CTDS supports research on digital access, builds capacity, collects and disseminates information, and supports Indigenous digital sovereignty over both intangible data and physical hardware and networks (“Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty,” n.d.).

Go the Extra Mile

If you are interested in this topic, check out this presentation by Dr. Traci Morris, Executive Director of the American Indian Policy Institute for more information.

Key Takeaway

Indigenous communities may face distinct technological challenges shaped by geography and infrastructure. Libraries benefit from understanding these contexts and supporting technology services that align with local needs and conditions.