For Immediate Release
December 12, 2022
Press Contact
NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002, [email protected]
WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that New York received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. New York is receiving $7,178,646 in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden, to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state.
"Internet for All initiatives will increase the affordability of Internet services with the goal of providing New Yorkers with equitable Internet access," said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "I thank Governor Hochul for her work in expanding Internet access to address the needs of unserved and underserved communities."
“Access to affordable, reliable internet is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity for connecting individuals to employment, education, and essential government services,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “This funding from the Biden-Harris administration will help to keep New Yorkers connected and build our digital infrastructure for the 21st century economy. I want to thank our federal partners for making this investment in our state, and I look forward to continuing that partnership to expand digital equity and ensure that high-speed broadband is available to all.”
All 50 U.S. states and six territories applied for planning grant funding for the Internet for All initiative's Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and the Digital Equity Act program. Grant awards for all 56 eligible entities will be announced on a rolling basis.
About New York’s Planning Grants
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
The BEAD Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs.
New York will receive $5 million to fund various activities including:
- Supporting activities including the development of a high-quality Five-Year Action Plan, Initial Proposal, and robust Final Proposal, which will serve as roadmaps for transforming New York's digital infrastructure in rural and urban areas across the state;
- Developing of a preliminary budget for pre-planning activities;
- Providing technical assistance to potential subgrantees, including through workshops and events;
- Asset mapping to catalogue broadband adoption, affordability, equity, access, and deployment activities.
Digital Equity
The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. The first part of NTIA’s execution of the Digital Equity Act is to fund digital equity planning efforts.
New York will receive $2,178,646 to fund various activities including:
- Supporting development of a robust and comprehensive five-year statewide Digital Equity Plan that will serve as a roadmap for achieving digital equity across the state;
- Stakeholder engagement;
- Capacity building statewide, regionally, and locally;
- Data collection, asset mapping and analysis.
Internet for All
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA recently launched a series of new high-speed Internet grant programs funded by the law that will build high-speed Internet infrastructure across the country, create more low-cost high-speed Internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward Internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Visit AffordableConnectivity.gov to learn more.
For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet service programs, please visit InternetforAll.gov.