Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC GRANTS THE NAVAJO NATION TEMPORARY SPECTRUM ACCESS TO MEET INCREASED WIRELESS BROADBAND NEEDS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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WASHINGTON, April 17, 2020—The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau today granted an emergency Special Temporary Authority request filed by the Navajo Nation to use unassigned spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band to provide wireless broadband service over its reservation as part of its emergency COVID-19 pandemic response.  The Nation is located within parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.  The temporary grant of authority is effective for 60 days.

“I am pleased that we can provide this temporary spectrum access to the Navajo Nation,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “Tribal communities are having to adjust to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic while already facing some of the greatest challenges caused by the digital divide that we see anywhere in the nation.  As with any community—rural or urban—Tribal members are having to work from home and to rely increasingly on telemedicine and remote learning as they practice social distancing to minimize the spread of the virus on their reservations.  This additional spectrum should help the leaders of the Navajo Nation meet the needs of its people during this challenging time.  I wish all the Navajo people health and wellness, and I remain committed to helping them bridge the digital divide.”

In addition to supporting emergency relief to meet increased broadband demands during the pandemic, the Commission continues to accept applications from eligible Tribal entities for licensed access to unassigned 2.5 GHz spectrum over their rural Tribal Lands in the Rural Tribal Priority Window, which closes August 3, 2020. The grant of emergency temporary access to 2.5 GHz spectrum will not affect the availability of such spectrum to eligible Tribal applicants for purposes of the Rural Tribal Priority Window.


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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).