The penobscot indian nation has been a marginalized community in the state of maine for centuries

The penobscot nation's population is 2,398, with approx. 600 people living on the penobscot indian reservation. Tribal members make up approximately 800 households. This population has a median household income of $36,607/YR., compared to the maine median of $63,182/YR., with 19.1% living below the federal poverty line (compared to 11.5% in maine) and 10% unemployment rate (compared to 2.8% in maine). High-speed internet is widely recognized as a necessity for full participation in todays society. Employers, educators, businesses, healthcare providers, and civic institutions expect people to have access to computers and broadband connectivity. The penobscot nation has negotiated a contract with spectrum, a regional internet provider, to a cost of $25 per month per household for those living on tribal LAND240 households, and $25 per month for tribal member households living off tribal LAND560. These newly negotiated monthly costs are down from $134.99 per month per household. Through this grant, for the duration of the grant period, we will cover the $25 cost per month per household that remains to provide full internet connectivity to all tribal member households. Currently, we have a 20-hour-per-week funded digital navigator position through the national digital equity center (NDEC). Through this grant, we will make this position full-time. This position will be filled by a tribal member.