Tribal Resource Center is PCI’s effort (funded by Google) to support Native American tribal connectivity initiatives.
Despite ongoing efforts to digitize education and move to online resources, nearly half of those living in rural communities in the US still lack broadband access.
The project is led by Matthew Rantanan, who represents Tribal Resource Center on the PCI Executive Action Board.
Matthew Rantanen, Director of Technology for the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA)
Matthew is the Director of Technology for the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA) and Director of the Tribal Digital Village (TDVNet) Network/Initiative that was started in 2001 designing and deploying wireless networking to support the tribal communities of Southern California. A “cyber warrior for community networking,” focused on technology development and connectivity in the Tribal community, he was 2-term appointed member, FCC Native Nations Broadband Task Force, Appointed by Chairman Genachowski, reappointed by Chairman Wheeler. Matthew was called upon by the White House during the Obama administration to work with the CTO and staff to identify and solve connectivity issues in the communication deserts of the USA. He helped create the UMOYA Corporation (not for profit), and the Tribal International Carrier component, mapping and cost analyzing the missing middle-mile piece of connectivity for Tribal communities in North America.
Additional Tribal Connectivity Projects
Formation of a new North American Indigenous Chapter ISOC
North American Indigenous Chapter ISOC, will be inclusive of the Native Nations of the First Nations in Canada, and the Tribes in the United States, including Alaskan Native Corporations, and Hawaiian Homelands. The chapter will be a policy development think tank. It will provide a conduit to Native American Indigenous efforts in community networking and access, awareness, and adoption. It will host in-person, and online events to help the indigenous communities of North America find their footing in the digital age.
Tribal Digital Village Network (TDVNet)
PCI is working with the Tribal Digital Village in the San Diego area to help them improve the infrastructure they use to deliver Internet service via the Tribal Digital Village Network (TDVNet). This system collaborated with the UC San Diego High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network developed by Hans-Werner Braun, the former CTO of MERIT, the organization that managed the NSFNET in the 1985-95 period. We have also engaged with Executive Director Robert Freling at the Solar Electric Light Fund to assess the potential for improved solar power support and with Steven Huter, Executive Director of the Network Startup Resources Center at the University of Oregon to organize a training program to prepare local Native American engineers and other volunteers to assist with upgrading of the TDVNET system.