FAST-41 Covered Tribal Project Completes Federal Permitting

WASHINGTON (April 30, 2026) – Today, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced the completion of federal permitting for the Navajo Nation Gallup McKinley County Schools E-Rate Funded Broadband Project. This project will deploy a middle mile fiber optic network to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, connecting school districts, pre-schools and libraries to critically needed high-speed internet.

The Navajo Nation’s Gallup McKinley County Schools E-Rate Funded Broadband Project will construct 61 miles of middle mile fiber optic infrastructure. With an investment of $3.6 million, the project will connect the school district and a proposed health care facility with critically needed high-speed internet to speeds of 1 Gbps or greater. Once complete, the project is expected to deliver affordable, scalable, and future-ready broadband service to bridge the digital divide for the Navajo Nation in one of the most remote and underserved areas in the U.S. 

“Congratulations to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for advancing this vital project,” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. “In today’s digital world, access to high-speed internet is essential for rural communities. I am pleased that the FAST-41 process helped facilitate efficient federal permitting and kept this critical project on track.” 

“I’m grateful to the Navajo Nation Broadband Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council for their work in advancing this critical project,” said Rep. Eli Crane (AZ-02). “The Navajo Nation Gallup McKinley broadband initiative addresses longstanding infrastructure needs by bringing high-speed connectivity to schools, health providers, and surrounding communities. While rural communities face unique challenges, this project highlights the administration’s commitment to expanding opportunity and essential services to all Americans.”

“When I joined Sacred Wind Communications, I was new to the federal permitting landscape and quickly realized the complexity of coordinating across so many agencies,” said Paul Tavella, Sr., Manager-- Engineering and Construction for the Navajo Nation Broadband Office. “The Fast‑41 team brought structure, accountability, and clarity to a process that can otherwise be overwhelming. They helped identify requirements early, set realistic timelines, and facilitated productive collaboration across federal, tribal, state, and local partners. Thanks to their experience and guidance, we were able to align our resources, meet federal requirements, and move confidently toward construction. Today, I have a strong understanding of the full permitting process, and I’m grateful for the role Fast‑41 played in making this project successful.”

This project is sponsored by the Navajo Nation Broadband Office and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs served as the lead agency for federal permitting. Learn more on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.