24th Navajo Nation Council and Arcadian Infracom partner to finance first fiber optics communications
On Tuesday, Speaker Seth Damon (Bááhaalí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Red Rock, Rock Springs, Tséyatoh) and Resources & Development Committee Chairman Rickie Nez (T’iistsoh Sikaad, Nenahnezad, Upper Fruitland, Tsé Daa K’aan, Newcomb, San Juan) welcomed visiting officials from Arcadian Infracom to celebrate the presentation of $15,500 in funds to finance the first scaled fiber optic communications network along Navajo Nation rights-of-way.
“The need for more sustainable internet access in the Navajo Nation has always been a recurring issue, and it is my pleasure to announce that through this strategic partnership, the 24th Navajo Nation Council can provide real solutions for not only our people but for surrounding communities,” said Speaker Damon.
Joined by Hon. Thomas Walker Jr. (Birdsprings, Leupp, Tolani Lake, Coalmine Canyon, Cameron), Delegate Nez accepted the first of what should be many revenue share checks from Arcadian CEO and Co-Founder, Dan Davis. Among those also in attendance were Arcadian Co-Founder, Derek Garnier and Sector Head of Private Infrastructure at Nuveen, Andrew Deihl.
“I appreciate the efforts of both the Council and Arcadian Infracom for their partnership that will have far more positive impacts in our communities and for the Navajo Nation,” said Delegate Nez. “The Navajo Nation is in dire need to generate more revenue as we are going through unprecedented times and Mr. Davis and his company will help kickstart the revitalization of our economy.”
The Fiber Project will connect the Navajo Nation to Phoenix, AZ, then to Salt Lake City, UT, as well as routing to Denver, CO, and Los Angeles, CA. Through the construction of this Project, the Navajo Nation will be able to have a bigger presence on the global stage due to improved high-speed internet access.
In 2018, the Resources and Development Committee of the 23rd Navajo Nation Council passed Resolution No. RDCAU-32-20, which approved the granting of Right-Of-Way and leases for all communications purposes to Acadian for an initial term of 50 years with two successive 20 years renewal periods. Under the leadership of Speaker Damon and Chairman Nez, the legislation was revised in 2020 to create a direct partnership between the Navajo Nation and Arcadian that enhanced and expanded the partnership to cover additional fiber builds.
The development of the Fiber Project will enable higher speed broadband access sufficient to support data-intensive applications such as high-quality video transmission. This more direct fiber backbone access running through the Navajo Nation will improve telehealth, educational, business, and commercial opportunities for Navajo Nation residents that will create new jobs and skills for Navajo residents.
As compensation for the use of the rights-of-way for this Fiber Project, Arcadian will pay the Navajo Nation an amount equal to a 3% share of all collected revenue generated from the portions of the project on the Navajo Nation. Additionally, Arcadian will provide dark fiber as well as 400 gigabits of bandwidth to the Navajo Nation for each major market connected to the fiber partnership routes (Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles) and 400 gigabits to NTUA of separate lit capacity at one point of the route.
“It is my honor to present to Hon. Council Delegate Rickie Nez, this first check and through our continued collaboration, we are able to improve broadband infrastructure on the Navajo Nation and will help replace the Nation’s revenue lost since the closing of the Navajo Generating Station and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mr. Davis. “I look forward to the many years of partnership that will help the Navajo people gain new skills for the betterment of the Navajo Nation.”
Arcadian Infracom is an infrastructure company dedicated to building and operating long-haul fiber routes that will connect major metro data centers across the country. Their main focus is to serve rural and tribal communities in an effort to provide broadband access and economic development in underserved communities.
