Traci L. Morris

November 19, 2009

As digital communications and the Internet become increasingly pervasive, Native Americans continue to lack access to this digital revolution.  Native Americans are among the last citizens to gain access to the Internet, with access to broadband often unavailable or overly expensive in Native communities.  Beyond that challenge, there is a fundamental lack of qualitative or quantitative empirical research on Native American Internet use, adoption, and access, stifling the Native voice in broadband and media policy. As the Federal Communications Commission develops a data-focused and comprehensive National Broadband Plan, the Native voice, and supportive research, is more important than ever.

The New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses contains the first valid and credible data gathered from the ground up on technology use, access, and adoption in Native American lands. The report combines both a survey of Native American technology use, normed against other national surveys, and case studies of six successful projects exhibiting Digital Excellence in Native America.

The study finds the digital revolution is stirring in tribal communities. Native Americans are using technology when it is available to interact, communicate, share culture, and gain the skills needed in a digital world. Despite a lack of access, higher prices for broadband and often non-existent infrastructure, leaders in these communities have developed a vision and built self-sufficient networks and community technology centers to connect and strengthen their Native communities.

The survey respondents and success stories highlighted in the report are representative of a widespread desire in Native America to have access to 21st century communication technologies to affect the policies that will shape the future of the technological landscape. Towards this end, the report combines a best practices model for deploying similar projects and includes recommendations for the necessary interventions and policies for bridging the Native American digital divide.  The report helps to propel Native voices into the national broadband discussion and lays the groundwork for Native deployment, access, and adoption of digital communication that is driven by and serving the needs of Native America

Please click here to view the presentation of the New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses at New America Foundation on November 19, 2009. To download the study go here.

On November 19, 2009, Native Public Media and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Initiative will release New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country:  Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses, one of the most extensive studies of on the ground technology use, access, and adoption in Native American lands.  Demonstrating the great need to include Native Americans in the discourse around the National Broadband Plan, the report combines both a survey of Native American technology use amongst 120 tribes, normed against other national surveys, and in-depth case studies of six successful projects exhibiting Digital Excellence in Native America.

As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) noted in 2004: “By virtually any measure, communities on tribal lands have historically had less access to telecommunications services than any other segment of the population.” Today, many Native American lands tribes have little or no affordable access to broadband – putting Internet connectivity and its associated benefits out of reach for many of these communities. Until now, the lack of data about the Native American telecommunications landscape has been a considerable barrier to developing informed policies to drive Internet deployment, access and adoption in tribal communities.

Propelling Native voices into the national broadband discussion, New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country:  Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses lays the groundwork for Native deployment, access, and adoption of digital communication that is driven by and serving the needs of Native America.  This work is authored by Traci L. Morris and Sascha D. Meinrath.

featured speakers
Loris Taylor
Executive Director
Native Public Media

Traci Morris
Policy Analyst
Native Public Media

Sascha Meinrath
Director, Open Technology Initiative
New America Foundation

Blair Levin
Coordinator
FCC National Broadband Plan (invited)

Geoffrey Blackwell
Native Public Media Advisory Council and Chair
Telecommunications Subcommittee of the National Congress of American Indians (invited)

Patricia de Stacy Harrison
President & CEO
Corporation for Public Broadcasting (invited)

For questions, contact Stephanie Gunter at (202) 596-3367 or gunter@newamerica.net.

For media inquiries, contact Kate Brown at (202) 596-3365 or brown@newamerica.net.