SUQUAMISH — While the dispute over the construction of a wireless communications tower in Indianola has been on the front burner for the past few years, it’s how the tower will be utilized by two agencies in the long run that will have the bigger impact.
The partnering groups, Kitsap County Central Communications and the Suquamish Tribe, have been working behind the scenes on plans for the tower they feel will benefit them and their surrounding communities.
Both parties are currently waiting for federal approval to move forward with the tower construction, but the Suquamish Tribe has been working for nearly four years on programming that will benefit its youngest and oldest tribal members.
The tribe received a Technology Opportunity Program grant in 2000 to develop a mobile computer lab for the reservation, part of a project called RezNet: The Suquamish Electronic Nation Mobile Project. The tower is needed to provide Internet access for this lab through a wireless connection.
RezNet is part of the tribe’s overall technology program called Digital Nation. The program provides tribal members with access to technology through its computer loan program and computer learning center. However, tribal educators found that the labs weren’t being used by children on the reservation because of limited transportation. The tribe then discovered mobile computer labs and decided to bring the resources to the children.
“The idea was that for tribal members to succeed, they need the same amount of technology as everyone else,” said TOPS grant manager for the tribe, Jeff Thompson.
The RezNet computer lab will travel to five different sites on the reservation —Sackman, Eaglemere, Sister Sky, Angeline and the Early Learning Center — and will provide assistance with homework and continuing education opportunities for tribal members.
The lab itself is being constructed in Columbus, Ohio and is expected to be in Suquamish in about a month.
The mobile computer lab is a 35-foot long Winnebago with 12 computer work stations, one teacher work station, a bathroom and wheelchair access.
The lab’s curriculum will be run in coordination with the education department of the Suquamish tribe and the North Kitsap School District, so both agencies can work together to monitor the kids’ progress, Thompson said.
If the child is having a problem with a particular subject in school, they will be assigned a time when the lab is in their neighborhood and will work with the teacher one-on-one.
Thompson said the lab will be geared towards kindergarten through sixth grades at first, followed by students in grades seven to12 in the fall, and eventually provide adult education.
Internet access is “critical” to this project, Thompson said. Tribal educators feel that the Native American kids don’t always have the same up-to-date tools and resources that non-native kids have to succeed and further their education.
This is where the controversial tower in Indianola is utilized. A 25-foot mast will be on top of the lab, which will point towards the direction of the tower for a wireless connection for the Internet.
Besides students using it for school, the native community will also have access to what Thompson calls “The Virtual Longhouse.”
The secure, password-protected Internet portal will have information about the tribe, such as pictures and historical background of ancestors, for tribal members to use and learn about their culture.
Thompson hopes to have the lab in Suquamish in April and the tower to be up and running by August.
“We feel it is important to get this approved,” Thompson said about the final steps towards constructing the tower. “The kids in this area need the same opportunities as other kids in the area. It’s an education and culture center.”
SIDEBAR:
CenCom waiting in the wings for approval
CenCom is waiting to get final approval from the Federal Communications Commission to construct the tower.
At first, CenCom was ready to start working on construction, but concerned residents sent a letter to the FCC, asking them to investigate if the tower would impact the environment and surrounding wildlife habitats.
The FCC reviewed the situation and asked CenCom and the tribe to complete eight requirements before FCC officials would consider approval.
One of the requirements included seeking a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife.
This week, CenCom director Ron McAffee met with USFW officials in Olympia and expects to the agency to recommend that CenCom follow the USFW advisory guidelines when it comes to building the tower.
Following that, the tribe’s latest biological assessment, CenCom’s most recent environmental review and the USFW’s recommendations will be sent to the FCC for final approval.
McAffee said the studies have shown that the tower will have no or little environmental impact to the area.
At the same time, CenCom is seeking construction bids on its emergency communications tower project, in which four towers, including the Indianola structure, will be constructed within the county to improve radio signals for law enforcement and medical services personnel.
