Biden-Harris Administration Allocates More Than $800 Million to Increase Digital Inclusion Efforts

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the availability and individual state allocations of approximately $811 million in funding to states, territories, and native entities to empower individuals and communities with the tools, skills, and opportunities to benefit from meaningful access to high-speed Internet service. The funding comes from the Digital Equity Act, a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) released today, states and territories can apply for funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to begin implementation of their digital equity plans. These digital equity plans identify the barriers to accessing and using digital resources and establish measurable objectives for promoting access to and meaningful use of broadband technology and advancing digital skills. The NOFO announces the first funding available through the $1.44 billion Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. This funding opportunity includes funds appropriated for Fiscal Years 2022-2024. Additional funding opportunities will be available in the future.  About $760 million is available to 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. About $45 million is available to native entities. About $8.4 million is available to territories. In the coming months, NTIA will launch the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, which is a $1.25 billion grant program that will make funds available to a variety of entities, including for example, some political subdivisions of states, native entities, nonprofits, community anchor institutions, local educational agencies, workforce development organizations, as well as territories. By statute, the competitive grant program will launch 30 days after NTIA makes its first Capacity Grant Program award.  

DIGITAL EQUITY TENTATIVE ALLOCATION AMOUNT

• Alabama $13,702,566.00
• Alaska $5,631,769.64
• Arizona $16,170,760.44
• Arkansas $10,161,429.01
• California $70,226,453.82
• Colorado $12,368,261.03
• Connecticut $9,183,114.07
• Delaware $4,816,482.10
• District of Columbia $3,804,000.00
• Florida $41,748,794.74
• Georgia $22,455,639.68
• Hawaii $6,017,160.03
• Idaho $6,305,226.45
• Illinois $23,732,912.78
• Indiana $15,096,770.19
• Iowa $8,442,129.37
• Kansas $8,229,246.17
• Kentucky $12,123,531.39
• Louisiana $12,727,887.98
• Maine $5,784,349.60
• Maryland $13,427,134.17
• Massachusetts $14,133,924.00
• Michigan $20,585,775.60
• Minnesota $12,033,288.01
• Mississippi $10,752,090.73
• Missouri $14,237,940.09
• Montana $6,938,534.64
• Nebraska $6,500,627.76
• Nevada $9,200,546.13
• New Hampshire $4,942,018.62
• New Jersey $18,094,857.62
• New Mexico $8,673,975.84
• New York $36,984,641.81
• North Carolina $22,456,097.01
• North Dakota $4,549,772.25
• Ohio $23,291,991.74
• Oklahoma $11,233,311.64
• Oregon $9,947,586.17
• Pennsylvania $25,508,473.61
• Rhode Island $4,540,059.53
• South Carolina $12,846,583.30
• South Dakota $5,010,234.08
• Tennessee $15,814,288.00
• Texas $55,641,147.86
• Utah $7,795,149.91
• Vermont $5,299,150.18
• Virginia $18,330,732.47
• Washington $15,983,291.58
• West Virginia $9,011,588.00
• Wisconsin $13,248,029.83
• Wyoming $5,251,485.99
• American Samoa $2,100,000.00
• Guam $2,100,000.00
• Northern Mariana Islands $2,100,000.00
• Puerto Rico $9,807,187.39
• U.S. Virgin Islands $2,100,000.00