Sustaining critical rural radio operations to support the emergency alert system (EAS)

Lakota Communications, Inc. (Kili Radio) received a $235,745 Project Grant from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs under the Aid to Tribal Governments program (CFDA 15.020) effective November 15, 2025, with completion targeted for November 14, 2026. This award supports critical rural radio operations in Porcupine, South Dakota that sustain the Emergency Alert System (EAS), ensuring that tribal and rural communities maintain reliable emergency communication infrastructure and public alert capabilities.

The funding enables Kili Radio to continue essential broadcast operations that serve the Emergency Alert System's mission of disseminating timely emergency information to vulnerable rural and tribal populations. This award is part of a broader November 2025 funding initiative by the Bureau of Indian Affairs focused on sustaining rural radio operations across Indian Country, with nine similar Project Grants ranging from approximately $214,000 to $385,000 plus one Cooperative Agreement awarded in the same period.