DIGITAL INCLUSION OF INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS:AS CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS OF BROADBAND SERVICES

摘要

In considering the next generation of technologies and services, universal access to broadbandamong remote and indigenous populations may seem a minor issue. But it actually serves as amicrocosm of next generation issues including provider sustainability in rural markets, convergingfixed and mobile wireless technologies for broadband, strategies to encourage adoption andentrepreneurship, and accountability of providers.This paper reviews current initiatives of the FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) toextend broadband to tribal regions and to engage tribal members as providers as well as consumersof telecommunications facilities and services. It also reviews the experience of indigenouscommunications organizations in northern Canada.Some of these strategies for extending broadband such as reverse auctions and targeted subsidieshave been tried in other contexts, but never before specifically for tribal regions or for small remotecommunities. Some FCC policies such as the requirement to engage with tribal governments arecompletely new, and to the author’s knowledge, have never been implemented for indigenousregions in other countries. Another unusual element of this FCC initiative is an effort to fosterparticipation of indigenous organizations as providers of broadband and other services, and not onlysubscribers. In Canada, several Aboriginal organizations do provide broadband services in remoteregions, but they are not eligible for subsidies reserved for incumbent carriers.The paper draws on field research and case studies in Alaska and northern Canada to review thestatus and results to date of these initiatives. It also examines training and other steps that will berequired to engage indigenous groups as providers as well as consumers of broadband services.The paper concludes with lessons from these initiatives relevant for remote and indigenous regionsof the Asia-Pacific.