Tribal chief says state offering cash for broadband job

JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

St. Regis Mohawk Tribal officials say Gov. David A. Paterson has offered them matching state funds for a multimillion-dollar community broadband project currently under consideration for federal stimulus dollars.

The tribe is seeking stimulus funds for a $6.8 million broadband infrastructure and access project that would run fiber-optic lines throughout the reservation and create public access points where members of the tribe could access high-speed Internet service.

Tribal Chief James W. Ransom said the tribe's proposal is one of about 2,200 applications for up to $7 billion in stimulus funding specifically targeted toward broadband projects. Of those applications, only about 30 came from Native American tribes, the chief said.

Mr. Ransom said the tribe's application has been strengthened by the offer from the governor to contribute about $480,000 toward the project if the stimulus dollars are approved.