WISPA

Infrastructure Projects on Tribal Lands Must Consult Tribal Governments: Wispapalooza

Providers should hold the sales pitch and listen to the needs of a given tribe, they said.

Jake Neenan

Oct 18, 2024 — 2 min read

From left: Joseph Peralta, network coordinator at the Southern California Traibal Chairman's Association; Stephen Stukas, CEO of Smart Fiber Networks; David Jermakian, president of Dynamic Environmental Associates; and Heather Wilkins, vice president of HCI Energy.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 17, 2024 – Broadband providers looking to deploy infrastructure on Tribal lands will have to consult with Tribal governments, as do FCC license holders looking to put a tower on lands a tribe has an interest in.

Panelists at WISPAPALOOZA urged providers to avoid the usual sales pitch and frame projects in terms of how they can meet the specific needs of a given Tribal community.

“One of the biggest things I would tell anybody trying to approach a tribe is: Don’t just have a salesperson go,” said Joseph Peralta, a network coordinator at the Southern California Tribal Chairman’s Association. “Have a salesperson, have a technical person, and also try to have a tribal liaison, because that’s going to really help you deal with the Tribal government.”

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WISPA WISPAPALOOZA tribal broadband David Jermakian Joseph Peralta NTIA FCC