Wine Country Times

California state Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) recently took to social media to praise the Yurok Tribe for its continued ability to overcome diversity and economic development.

The mission of the tribe is to continue Tribal traditions "of self-governance, cultural and spiritual preservation, stewardship of Yurok lands, waters and other natural endowments, balanced social and economic development, peace and reciprocity, and respect for the dignity and individual rights," the tribe's website said. 

"Despite major challenges over the past few years – fires, drought and the pandemic – the Yurok Tribe is on the move focused on lifting up their members and North Coast communities," McGuire said in a tweet.

McGuire said that the tribe is advancing itself by becoming more modernized with the introduction of digital connection, environmental projects and a new safety complex.

"The tribe has been advancing economic development and broadband expansion projects, they’re leading on landmark environmental projects on the Klamath and through their condor reintroduction program and they’re modernizing tribal facilities with the building of the new public safety complex," McGuire said in a second tweet.

One of the major developments currently in the works for the Yurok Tribe is connecting into the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), allowing the tribe to have digital access at a reduced cost.

“This new program will provide virtually free internet service to those who are having trouble making ends meet during this challenging time. It is going to benefit many tribal and non-tribal reservation residents,” Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe, said in a press release on the tribe's website.

According to the press release, before the EBB program, only Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) were allowed to offer programs to help people get internet services, but with the announcement of the FCC in February that ETC provides could not apply for the EBB program, it opened the program up to the Yurok Tribe. 

The EBB was set up to help households with a median income under $11,000 annually have access to internet services at a reduced cost to ensure that residents have access to virtual health care, jobs and education opportunities, the release said. 

With the new EBB program, reservation households could see a reduction of $75 cost per month in internet service, and some who qualify may be offered a Wi-Fi Android tablet. 

“This new program will provide virtually free internet service to those who are having trouble making ends meet during this challenging time. It is going to benefit many tribal and non-tribal reservation residents," James said.