NTIA

Previously Recommended Tribal Broadband Awards Rejected

Previously recommended applicants had been tentatively accepted, but funds were not officially earmarked, for Tribal projects

Jake Neenan

Nov 19, 2025 — 3 min read

Photo of Olga Armenta, from the Tohono O’odham Utility Authority, in a tent set up to host the 2024 Tribal Broadband Bootcamp in Aguanga, Calif., by Jae C. Hong/AP

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 2025 – The Commerce Department said last week that previously obligated awards would not be rescinded as the agency prepares updated rules for its main Tribal broadband grant program.

That’s true, a spokesperson reiterated Tuesday. The trouble for some applicants is that their awards were only recommended for approval, meaning they had tentatively been selected but funds were not officially earmarked for their projects.

Tribes in that situation have had their award recommendations rescinded, people involved in the process said.

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NTIA Tribal Arielle Roth Quintillion Mac McHale Tribal Ready Joe Valandra TBCP

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