HPWREN-Connected Native American Learning Centers Begin Transition to Tribal Digital Village Network

Earlier this month, the HPWREN team worked with the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association (SCTCA) to connect the first leg of their Tribal Digital Village Network (TDVNet), which is being funded by a grant from Hewlett Packard. Antennas of a relay station on Palomar Mountain now point toward Pala, Rincon, and San Pasqual American Indian reservations.

Originally connected via HPWREN equipment, both Pala and Rincon - as well as San Pasqual - are the first phase of the TDVNet's endeavors to connect all 18 San Diego County tribes to the tribal-owned network. "TDVNet's Lorraine Orosco and Ben Linton are doing a great job in leading the efforts to transition the connection from HPWREN equipment to TDVNet equipment," said Hans-Werner Braun, who serves on the TDVNet's Technology Committee.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the connectivity is the power source currently being used at the San Pasqual site: a car battery! Although the battery does last for more than 24 hours and only needs to be charged once per day, San Pasqual tribal members plan to eventually transition to a grid power source. In the meantime, this car battery does an efficient job of powering their connection!

"The Pala Tribe of Mission Indians is pleased to participate in the Tribal Digital Village networking project," says Robert Smith, Pala Tribal Chairman and Board Chairman of the SCTCA. "Since TDVnet holds great potential to the future of our collective interests, we support Pala being the first SCTCA tribe within the TDVnet project to provide space for a multi-tribal relay site on tribal land."

Additional photographs regarding TDVNet are available at https://cdn.hpwren.ucsd.edu/images/sites.html#HP.

Additional information about the TDVNet can be found at /news/010913.html.

-KMB