Native Network and Microsoft Corp. announced an agreement Thursday to provide broadband internet access to nearly 73,500 people without service in rural communities in Montana and Washington.

This is part of the Microsoft Airband Initiative, which aims to extend broadband access to 2 million people in unserved portions of rural America by July 4, 2022, officials said. Unused parts of the broadcast spectrum are used to help rural communities access the internet,

Through the partnership, Native Network will provide affordable hybrid fixed wireless broadband internet access, including TV White Spaces, to tribes within Flathead Reservation in Montana as well as Lummi Nation and Swinomish Tribe in Washington.

It will come to rural Americans through commercial partnerships and investment in digital skills training for people. Proceeds from Airband connectivity projects will be reinvested into the program to expand broadband to more rural areas, officials said.

However, a couple of people affiliated with the Montana Telecommunications Association said the agreement is a positive contribution to available options, but did not know how widely it would or could be used in Montana.

“We kicked the tires and have determined the option is not viable,” said Geoff Feiss, general manager of the MTA. He said they had issues regarding technology and cost.

He said it might provide some options to deliver broadband to some areas of tribal reservations, but there were some characteristics not conducive to most rural areas.

“We’re not rejecting it out of hand, we’ve tried it and more power to them,” he said. “We see fiber as the solution.”

The MTA provides consultation and other services for independent rural telecommunications service providers in Montana.

According to Microsoft, there are 19.4 million people living in rural areas in the United States that lack access to a broadband internet connection, including nearly 40 percent of people living in rural Montana and 10 percent of people living in rural Washington, Microsoft said.

The FCC has also reported that about 35 percent of Americans living on Tribal Lands lack broadband access.

“Broadband is the electricity of the 21st century and is critical for farmers, small business owners, health care practitioners, educators and students to thrive in today’s digital economy,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a news release. “We are excited about the partnership with Native Network which will help close the digital divide in rural Montana and Washington, bringing access to approximately 73,500 people within and around the tribal communities.”

The company would not disclose the financial terms of the agreement but said proceeds will be reinvested to provide more rural areas with broadband. It said local providers will offer the service and the project will take one to two years to deploy.

“Through this partnership, we are creating a multi-year relationship with Native Network. We are in this for the long term,” company officials said.

State Sen. Daniel Salomon, R-Ronan, offered a comment.

“This union will provide access for almost 50,000 unserved people in Montana. The partnership can open up the world in countless areas including all levels of schools, any size business, individual students, all kinds of health care services and also just individual use,” he said.

Native Network was formed in 2015 to focus on telecom and technology projects in Indian Country with an emphasis on distribution networks for internet access in unserved and underserved markets, said Jenny Rickel, Native Network co-founder and chief operating officer. Its mission is to help Native American organizations prosper in the digital economy.

This partnership between Microsoft and Native Network will complement efforts from Gov. Steve Bullock in Montana and Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington to expand broadband access in their states.

Both states have offered strong support for closing the rural broadband gap in the U.S.

Bullock said in the news release that Indian nations and all of rural Montana should have the same expectation of wireless connectivity as those living in more urban areas

He said he was looking forward to seeing the technology used in some of the state’s most remote citizens and appreciate the hard work of Microsoft in deploying it.”

Dave Gibson, general manager of 3 Rivers Communications, said his company, which has 15,000 customers, would not be impacted.

“I doubt it will work for any areas of Montana but that is someone else’s decision to make,” he said.

He said about 95 percent of his rural customers can get really good broadband – most with fiber to the home.

“We are working on the other 5 percent,” he said.

Reach Phil Drake at 406-422-0772 or pdrake@greatfallstribune.com