Members of the Lovelock Paiute Tribe gathered Friday, October 3, to celebrate a milestone in
local connectivity with the completion of a new fiber broadband network that now provides high-
speed internet to every household and community facility within the Lovelock Indian Colony.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted at the Lovelock Paiute Tribe Administrative Building,
marked the sixth successful broadband project completed through the Inter-Tribal Council of
Nevada’s (ITCN) statewide initiative to bring reliable internet to tribal communities.
In partnership with Ethos Broadband and Commnet Wireless, the project delivered 3,600 feet of
new aerial fiber, connecting 43 previously unserved homes and three community buildings.
Funded by a $363,379 federal grant from the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, the project aims to expand digital
access for education, healthcare, safety, and community growth.
Chairwoman Tia Happy opened the ceremony, sharing the significance of this milestone from a
tribal perspective, followed by remarks from Deserea Quintana, ITCN Executive Director, and
Matt T. King of Ethos Broadband, who spoke about the power of partnerships in closing the
digital divide.
“This project represents more than faster internet—it represents opportunity,” Quintana said.
“Access to reliable broadband opens doors for students, families, and tribal programs that
strengthen the entire community.”
Following the speeches, guests joined tribal leaders and project partners for the official ribbon-
cutting and group photo before gathering for networking and refreshments served by
Temptations Catering, featuring sandwiches, fresh fruit, and gourmet brownies.
The Lovelock project is part of ITCN’s broader multi-tribe initiative to improve internet access
across Nevada’s tribal lands. With six completed fiber deployments so far, the program continues
to expand digital infrastructure across rural regions of the state.
As Chairwoman Tia Happy summarized, “This is about connection in every sense of the word.
Connection to education, to opportunity, and to each other.”
The event was open to the public, celebrating a significant broadband expansion in Pershing
County history. For more information about the project, visit itcn.org or lovelockpaiutetribe.org.
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