The Department of Commerce announced a $32.2 million grant to help the Navajo Nation bring high-speed Internet to its members in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 It will be used to install 550 miles of fiber optic cables and 59 microwave towers on the reservation.

"Today, too many people in Navajo Nation are struck on the wrong side of the digital divide, and when you don't have regular access to high-speed Internet, you don't have access to all the educational, business and employment opportunities that high-speed Internet provides," said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, the Associated Press reported.

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority will use $13.8 million of its own funds for the effort. "The project expects to directly connect 49 Chapter Houses, which serve as community centers for the Navajo population, at speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps," the Commerce Department said in a press release.

Get the Story:
Stimulus funds to bring high-speed Internet to Navajos (The Salt Lake Tribune 3/26)
Big grant brings broadband to Navajos (The Deseret News 3/26)
Navajo Nation to Get Blanketed With High-Speed Internet (Fast Company 3/25)
Stimulus money to bring broadband to the Navajo nation (The New Mexico Independent 3/25)
Navajos get $33M stimulus for broadband (New Mexico Business Weekly 3/25)
Grant to fund high-speed Internet on Navajo Nation (AP 3/26)