Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes recently shared that two major telecom companies, Frontier and Verizon, will invest $8 million to improve internet access in two rural Arizona counties, Navajo and Apache. This is part of a larger multistate agreement and the goal is to expand and fix broadband and fiber networks in areas that have long been underserved.
These counties include large portions of tribal lands such as the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and White Mountain Apache reservations. Census data shows more than half of the people living in these counties are Indigenous. Many have faced serious challenges getting online, including problems reaching emergency services because of poor network coverage.
Mayes said she is determined to keep pushing for better service in rural communities. She shared stories of people having to rely on Facebook to contact emergency services, something she said would never be tolerated in cities like Phoenix.
The plan breaks down the $8 million as follows: Holbrook and Snowflake will get $2 million to make their fiber networks more reliable. Another $2 million will be spent in St. Johns, Concho, Springville, and Vernon to improve internet connections there. Show Low will benefit from both funding areas. The remaining $4 million will be used to connect homes and businesses directly to high-speed fiber networks. The goal is to take a more complete approach to boosting internet access, especially for Native communities in northern Arizona.
The agreement also includes steps to fix repeated 911 outages in the region. Telecom companies must find out what is causing those problems and run a full check of their networks. However, the plan still needs final approval from a Maricopa County judge and the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Verizon is currently working on a $20 billion deal to buy Frontier, a move recently approved by federal regulators. But Mayes says that does not change her stance. These companies have enough resources to fix the issues. If they do not, she says she is ready to take legal action again.
