$16.1 million for Arizona, $10.1 million for Arkansas, $12.3 million for Colorado, $13.4 million for Maryland, $4.5 million for North Dakota, $2.1 million for American Samoa, and $2.1 million for the U.S. Virgin Islands
WASHINGTON — The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today has approved and recommended for award applications from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Maryland, North Dakota, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, allowing them to request access to more than $60.6 million to implement their Digital Equity Plans.
With this announcement, NTIA has approved and recommended for award all state and U.S. Territory applications for the first round of funding from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, one of three Digital Equity Act grant programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This first funding round will make approximately $768 million available to states and U.S. Territories.
This funding is part of the “Internet for All” initiative, a key component of President Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda. For a variety of reasons, many Americans struggle to use the Internet connection available to them—for example, some lack the skills to navigate online resources and protect their personal and financial information online; others cannot afford a computer or tablet at home.
States and territories will use this funding to implement their digital equity plans, which outlines how they will empower individuals and communities with the tools and skills necessary to benefit from meaningful access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.
“Quality, affordable high-speed Internet allows families and businesses to thrive in our modern economy. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Department of Commerce is connecting everyone across the country to quality, affordable high-speed Internet and providing the resources they need to make the most of that Internet connection,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “We look forward to working with the awardees to ensure all residents have the tools and skills to take advantage of quality, affordable high-speed Internet – whether it’s for work, education, health care, or any other essential service.”
These approvals are from the first funding round of the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, which made available more than $800 million for states, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and Native Entities to apply for grants to implement their digital equity plans. These plans were developed under the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program. Awards of funding will require additional review and approval of State-submitted documentation.
“For the first time, every state in the nation has a digital equity plan in place to promote widespread adoption of high-speed Internet services. These states and territories now can request access to the funds to put their digital equity plans into action,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative will ensure everyone can thrive online through access to devices and digital skills.”
Arizona
“Equitable access to high-speed Internet is more critical now than ever. It's how Americans can get a quality education, apply for a job, or participate in the online economy, and a Zip code should never be a barrier,” said Congressman Greg Stanton. “This investment under our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law gets us one step closer to bridging the digital divide between our rural, Tribal and urban communities.”
Arizona will use $16,170,760 in funding to implement key digital equity initiatives, including:
- Supporting local and Tribal capacity for digital equity planning with an emphasis on rural inhabitants;
- Increasing digital literacy and skills training opportunities with a focus on incarcerated individuals; and
- Ensuring Arizonans have an affordable device that meets their unique needs.
Arkansas
Arkansas will use $10,161,429 in funding to implement key digital equity initiatives, including:
- Establishing and supporting digital skills programs;
- Facilitating a program that will provide reduced-cost devices to individuals that complete digital skills training; and
- Establishment of mini-grant programs for community Wi-Fi access.
Colorado
“Access to high-speed internet -- and the equipment and devices to use it -- are necessary tools in the digital era,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “From homework to remote healthcare, this funding will make sure that all Coloradans have the tools to thrive.”
“We wrote our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make sure we would connect every house to fast, affordable internet,” said Senator John Hickenlooper. “This latest investment will help expand the digital literacy skills we need to close the digital divide.”
Colorado will use $12,368,261 in funding to implement key digital equity initiatives, including:
- Creating a Digital Inclusion Innovation Lab to fund projects that increase digital equity;
- Promoting Internet discount programs and cybersecurity services that are available through Internet service providers and other organizations or businesses; and
- Exploring a statewide ecosystem of device refurbishing, technical support, and recycling to increase device availability, affordability, and usability.
Maryland
“Closing the digital divide is not just about expanding infrastructure – it’s about ensuring that every Marylander can access reliable, affordable Internet when and where they need it,” said Governor Wes Moore. “This award will allow us to build on our efforts to address historic inequities, create pathways to prosperity for all, and grow our economy. We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued partnership. Together, we will leave no one behind.”
Maryland will use $13,427,134 in funding to implement key digital equity initiatives, including:
- Increasing the supply of publicly accessible digital technologies for underserved communities; and
- Connecting incarcerated and re-entering individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans with digital skills education, workforce development training, digital navigation, technical support, and other digital inclusion activities.
North Dakota
North Dakota will use $4,549,772 in funding to implement key digital equity initiatives, including:
- Providing funding to state agencies to expand and/or adjusting existing digital equity programs and resources; and
- Convening Internet service providers to establish objectives for a cybersecurity certification program, then identifying a subrecipient to finalize development of the certification program.
American Samoa
“The best possible future for our islands’ economy is based on being able to keep up with technology and communications so our local small businesses can take part in worldwide economic activity, our students have access to the latest learning, and our hospital and clinics can increase services through tele-health,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen. “I supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen infrastructure, broadband and other improvements. Thank you to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson, and NTIA for ensuring American Samoa’s funding, along with ASG as our people work with this program for our digital capacity in our islands.”
American Samoa will use $2,100,000 in funding to implement key digital equity initiatives, including:
- Strengthening disaster response capabilities and community resilience through broadband;
- Encouraging and promoting private sector efforts to increase access to devices and/or lower costs through refurbishing, recycling, and/or training; and
- Coordinating initiatives that address affordability to improve Internet access.
U.S. Virgin Islands
“The NTIA’s State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program is a much needed and welcomed resource that will assist our continued efforts to ensure digital accessibility and equity in the U.S. Virgin Islands and that will help us continue to close the digital accessibility gap that currently exists in our island community,” said Governor Albert Bryan Jr.
The U.S. Virgin Islands will use $2,100,000 in funding to implement key digital equity initiatives, including:
- Expanding STEM and digital literacy programs for children and youth, especially those from low-income households;
- Creating an Internet technology (IT) support certification and incentive program to build a cadre of IT professionals; and
- Expanding online English language programs for people with language barriers.
Additional funding opportunities will be available in the future. NTIA will announce State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program awards from this first round of funding on a rolling basis.
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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.