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 Office of the Illinois Secretary of State – in partnership with the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Access to Justice and The Chicago Bar Foundation – launched a new pilot utilizing local libraries’ technology to improve court access.

Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia has become the first state park in the country to install the RightHear Accessibility system which improves inclusivity and accessibility for people who are blind or have low vision.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has launched a new equity tool that is designed to help ensure all Californians benefit from transportation projects, and identify communities most negatively impacted by the transportation system which can result in high rates of traffic, crashes, and air pollution, as well as limited transit options.

The city of Detroit has announced new milestones in its efforts to close the digital divide and improve digital equity in the city. Specifically, the city is using its “Certified Tech Hub” initiative to ensure residents can easily determine where they can access digital resources, literacy training, and internet-connected devices.

The latest citizen survey conducted by the Seattle (Wash.) Information Technology Department has found ongoing digital divide and equity issues, and city leadership said it will use findings from survey to pursue goals including 100 percent internet connectivity for residents.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the state will invest $4.75 million in the Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans (DOCK) program, an initiative designed to improve the digital skills of Kansans.

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