The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that it has received more than 700 applications seeking $6.5 billion in funding for digital equity projects. NTIA noted that the total requested amount of funding is more than six times the available amount from the first round of the Digital Equity Act’s Competitive Grant Program funding.
The grant program was open to political subdivisions of states, such as city and county governments; Native entities including Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, or Native Hawaiian organizations; certain nonprofits; community anchor institutions; local educational agencies; and workforce development organizations. United States Territories are eligible to apply for funding under a separate set-aside.
“The overwhelming interest in our digital equity funding underscores the urgent need for access to digital resources in communities across the country,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. “Thanks to historic funding from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, our program will help veterans, communities of color, older Americans and other historically underserved populations thrive in the digital world.”
The first round of funding from the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program will make nearly $1 billion in funding available to organizations across the country to help ensure communities have access to devices and skills needed to fully participate in the digital ecosystem. NTIA said it is currently evaluating applications and will begin making awards on a rolling basis this winter. This Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program funding opportunity includes funds appropriated for Fiscal Years 2022-2025.
NTIA explained that the overall $1.25 billion Competitive Grant Program is funded as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Additional funding opportunities from the grant program will be available in the future.
