From dead zones to lifelines: Cherokee Nation’s broadband expansion boosts health, education

From dead zones to lifelines: Cherokee Nation’s broadband expansion boosts health, education

The Cherokee Nation is spending millions on infrastructure to expand internet and cell coverage within the reservation, a move that not only lifts educational outcomes but lowers suicide rates, according to clinical studies.

Cherokee Nation’s $45M Broadband Expansion Includes 15 Towers - Inside Towers

The Cherokee Nation has launched a $45 million initiative to install 15 new cellular towers across rural areas of its reservation, aiming to eliminate long-standing gaps in cell service and internet access. The project, part of the Cherokee Connect Broadband Initiative, is expected to be completed by summer 2026 and will serve thousands of households, according to Cherokee Phoenix. “Our rural Cherokee communities can’t thrive without modern conn…