Research

Data Sources and Updates

This dashboard uses publicly available information from federal government agencies and other official sources. Data are collected, standardized, and reviewed by human analysts and updated periodically as new information becomes available.

Data Accuracy and Limitations

While efforts are made to ensure accuracy and consistency, data availability, completeness, and reporting practices vary across federal agencies, programs, and years. Missing or incomplete information should not be interpreted as an absence of funding, project activity, or progress.

Tribal Data Representation

Information about Tribal Nations, Tribal enterprises, and their broadband projects is derived from publicly available federal records and may not fully reflect their individual priorities, experiences, or project progress. The dashboard is intended to highlight and make this information more accessible while recognizing Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and the unique circumstances of each community. The inclusion of a Tribal Nation or entity does not imply its endorsement of the dashboard or its interpretation of the data.

Intended Use

This dashboard is intended for informational and research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or policy advice. Users are encouraged to consult original federal sources for the most current information and are responsible for interpreting and applying the information provided.

Definitions for dashboard data.

See dictionary

This dashboard is an interactive resource that brings together publicly available federal broadband funding information relevant to Tribal Nations and their communities. It includes 33 unique federal broadband programs and allows users to explore funding information, identify award recipients, learn about broadband projects, and better understand federal investments supporting Tribal connectivity.

1. What information is included in the dashboard? 

There are five interactive views: 

• Overview: Summarizes federal broadband programs, available funding amounts, agencies, Tribal-affiliated awards, and recipient information.
• Award and program explorer: Allows users to explore individual award records and filter by program, year, state, agency, project status, and recipient characteristics.
• Tribal broadband funding map: Displays federally recognized Tribal Nations using headquarters coordinates and provides information about associated awards.
• Advanced funding analysis: Allows users to organize and examine funding information using customizable grouping levels.

• Program and project information: Provides descriptions of federal broadband programs and when available, information about individual funded projects.

   

   

2. What broadband programs and awards are being tracked? 

The dashboard is tracking 33 unique federal broadband programs, with funding information primarily covering 2021 - 2025. These programs include both funding opportunities specifically designated for Tribal Nations and broader federal broadband programs that have supported Tribal entities or projects benefiting Tribal communities.

Not every program has information available for every year. The dashboard reflects the records identified through publicly available federal sources.

3. Does the dashboard include funding awarded to non-Tribal entities?

Yes, while the dashboard focuses on funding relevant to Tribal Nations, some awards are made to non-Tribal entities, including telecommunications providers, state governments, and other organizations.

For example, a Tribal Nation may partner with a telecommunications provider to develop broadband infrastructure, or a state-led broadband project may extend connectivity to nearby Tribal lands. When publicly available project descriptions identify Tribal Nations or communities as beneficiaries, those awards may be included even if the direct awardee is not a Tribal entity.
 

The dashboard is not intended to represent every award made through each non-Tribal federal broadband program.

4. How often is the dashboard updated? 

The dashboard is intended to be reviewed and updated approximately monthly, as new information becomes available from federal agencies and other official sources.

Updates may include newly announced awards, updated funding amounts, additional project information, and changes in reported project status. Because federal reporting schedules vary, information may not be updated at the same frequency for every program.

1. What is the difference between appropriated, obligated, and outlayed funding?

These terms represent different stages of federal funding:

• Appropriated: Funding provided by Congress through legislation and made available for a specific federal program or purpose. Appropriated funds have not necessarily been committed to specific recipients or projects.
• Obligated: Funding that a federal agency has legally committed to a specific purpose, such as a grant, contract, or other award. Obligated funds have not necessarily been disbursed to recipients.
• Outlayed: Funding that has actually been disbursed or paid by the federal government to fulfill financial obligations.

The dashboard's overview includes available information for all three funding stages, while the Award & Program Explorer focuses primarily on obligated and outlayed amounts reported for individual recipients.

These figures may come from different reporting periods and should not automatically be interpreted as a complete funding timeline for each award.

2. Why are some funding amounts missing?

Federal agencies differ in how frequently and how thoroughly they report broadband funding information. Recipient-level award and obligation information is generally more available than detailed outlay information. In some cases, an amount may not have been reported, may not yet be publicly available, or may not have been identified in the sources reviewed.

Important: A blank cell does not necessarily mean that no funding was awarded, obligated, or outlayed. In some instances, it may represent missing or unavailable information. Users should consult the original federal source when confirming the financial status of a particular award.

3. Does the dashboard show every federal broadband award benefiting Tribal Nations?

The dashboard aims to provide a broad collection of publicly available federal broadband funding records relevant to Tribal Nations, but it is not an exhaustive inventory. Records are included when they identify a Tribal Nation or Tribal-related recipient, or when available project information identifies Tribal communities as beneficiaries. Some relevant awards may not appear because of limitations in publicly available records, incomplete project descriptions, or differences in federal reporting.

4. Where does the dashboard's information come from?

The dashboard uses publicly available information collected from federal government agencies, program websites, funding reports, award announcements, and other official sources. 

1. How can I find funding information related to a specific Tribal Nation or community?

Users can explore the award and program explorer to search for specific awardees, programs, states, and other characteristics.
 

The Tribal broadband funding map also allows users to explore awards associated with federally recognized Tribal Nations by selecting locations on the map.

Because awards may be issued to Tribal enterprises, telecommunications providers, or other partner organizations, searching related entity names may help identify additional relevant records.

2. What is the difference between "Awardee / Applicant" and "Recipient Entity (Standardized)"?

• Awardee / applicant refers to the original name reported in the federal funding source.
• Recipient entity (standardized) is a name used to organize and connect records that may refer to the same entity under different names.

For example, an award may be issued to a tribally owned telecommunications company, while the standardized recipient field identifies its verified association with a Tribal Nation. These relationships are based on research and verification. When a relationship cannot be confirmed, the original applicant name is retained rather than assuming an affiliation.

3. Does the dashboard represent a Tribal Nation's complete broadband development efforts?

Not necessarily, the dashboard reflects information identified through publicly available federal funding sources. Tribal Nations may be pursuing additional broadband projects, partnerships, investments, and community initiatives that are not represented in these records.
 

Federal project descriptions may also not fully capture a Tribal Nation's priorities, experiences, or definition of project success. The dashboard is intended to make available information easier to explore while respecting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

4. Why might a Tribal Nation appear on the map without showing the location of its broadband project? 

The Tribal Broadband Funding Map uses the headquarters coordinates of federally recognized Tribal Nations rather than the physical locations of individual broadband projects. Map markers help users explore awards associated with Tribal Nations but should not be interpreted as project construction sites or service areas.

1. Can I download or share the dashboard data?

Users can share a link to the dashboard and capture screenshots of its visualizations. Direct downloads of the underlying data, including CSV, Excel, and Tableau crosstab exports, are not currently supported. Users interested in the original data may consult the federal sources identified in the dashboard's supporting documentation.

1. How can I report an error or suggest an improvement?

We welcome feedback from Tribal Nations, community members, researchers, and other dashboard users as it helps inform future updates and improve the accuracy, accessibility, and usefulness of the resource.

If you identify an incorrect recipient name, funding amount, Tribal affiliation, or other information, or would like to suggest an improvement, please submit feedback through the dashboard's feedback and corrections form.






 

Thank you for exploring the Federal Broadband Funding for Tribal Nations Dashboard. We welcome feedback, corrections and suggestions to help improve the accuracy, accessibility and usefulness of this resource.

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