Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:

Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management

Description:

The Navajo Nation Department of Education proposes to deploy a reliable, affordable, scalable, and future-proofed broadband network that bridges the digital divide for the foreseeable future in some of the most remote, isolated, high-cost, and difficult to serve areas of the United States. The Navajo Nation Department of Education E-Rate Funded Broadband Project consists of constructing approximately 323 miles of middle mile fiber optic network on the Navajo Nation to connect 17 Head Start entities and 33 libraries with high-speed Internet connectivity to speeds of 1 Gbps or greater.

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Indian Affairs request to extend the NEPA; Section 106; Right-of-Way (BLM); Right-of-Way (BIA); Use Authorization (BOR); and Endangered Species Act (FWS) completion dates on March 31, 2025. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

The project proponent is developing the project in phases. Phase I would provide internet service from Ya’ta’hey to San Juan Chapter, New Mexico, as considered in the Ya’ta’hey to San Juan  Chapter, New Mexico Fiber Optic Broadband Cable Navajo Nation Division of Education Environmental Assessment (EA-26-012726). Phase II of the proposed project would serve the 11 Navajo communities; starting with San Juan Chapter, Bloomfield to Counselor and Huerfano, Crownpoint, Lake Valley, White Rock, Becenti, Rock Springs, Bread Springs, Casamero Lake, Churchrock, Pinedale, Mariano Lake, and Pueblo Pintado. 

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Indian Affairs request to extend the Right-of-Way (BLM); Right-of-Way (BIA); and Use Authorization (BOR) in June 2026. The Executive Director determination is posted here.