Tidal Network

Tidal Network is a new department that was developed in 2021 to lead the Tribe’s efforts to remove barriers and close the digital divide by providing increased broadband connectivity and speed throughout Southeast Alaska’s rural communities.

The department is focused on Tlingit & Haida’s broadband initiative to build out fixed wireless towers for the last-mile delivery of broadband services to Southeast Alaska communities ; partner with carriers for access and development of broadband to Alaska communities; promote existing options like America Connectivity Plan (ACP); incentivize competition and infrastructure, offer local support for networking and computing; make cybersecurity more accessible ; and provide education, endpoints, Customer Premise(s) Equipment (CPE), security, managed networking and local technical support to effectively utilize the internet for governance, education, healthcare, public safety and law enforcement, and economic development.

Chris Cropley Broadband Network Systems Architect

2021 Highlights

ƒ Participated in meetings with Tlingit & Haida Community Councils and Indian Reorganization Act (IRAs) tribes in Southeast Alaska to share information on the Tribe’s broadband initiative, seek support for the Tribe’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant applications, and discuss opportunities to partner under the 2.5 GHz wireless spectrum. ƒ Participated in meetings with the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), Denali Commission, Sealaska, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s team, SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Southeast Conference, and Southeast Conservation Council to form partnerships and secure funding. ƒ Met with vendors and consultants to design, plan, build and use the 2.5GHz throughout Southeast

Alaska for a WISP. ƒ Built a consortium with seven (7) tribes and three (3) Native organizations to support the Tribe’s

NTIA grant applications ($50 million) to build out a WISP in more than 20 communities and 30 locations in Southeast Alaska. The consortium includes: » Chilkat Indian Village » Craig Tribal Association » Hydaburg Cooperative

Association » Klawock Cooperative Association » Organized Village of Kasaan » Sitka Tribe of Alaska » Wrangell Cooperative Association » Haida Corporation » Sealaska

Luke Johnson Broadband Network Systems Architect

» SEARHC ƒ Secured 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window (TPW) license from the Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) and received a broadband license. ƒ Secured Internet Protocol version (Ipv)4, Ipv6 and Autonomous System Numbers (ASN) space from

American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). ƒ Secured domain and continued work on branding development.

ƒ Started design, plan and build out of Wrangell, Alaska as a pilot for the WISP. Worked with Nokia, Pierson, Corenoc, realtors, and other consultants to identify locations and architecture of the WISP in Wrangell. ƒ Attended two industry conferences to network with vendors and build relationships with other tribes outside of

Alaska. ƒ Received approval to expand department to include an administrative assistant, trainer, and coordinator.

2022 Goals

ƒ Defend the 2.5 GHz spectrum within Tlingit & Haida’s shapefile and partner with other tribes to defend their 2.5

GHz using the Cell on Wheels (COW), tower leases, radio purchases and installations. ƒ Design radio frequency and Internet Protocol Networks (IPN). ƒ Purchase and stand-up COW, other required services, hardware, and software, as well as build the workforce to provide service. ƒ Receive and allocate National Telecommunications and Information Administration Tribal

Broadband Connectivity Program award throughout Southeast Alaska.