Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $2.9 Million to Missouri in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Missouri 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. Missouri is receiving $2,974,642.59 in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act, signed by President Biden, to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state. Through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, Missouri will receive $2,147,304.59 to fund various activities including:

• Development of a 5-year action plan to close the broadband availability gap;
• Identification of unserved and underserved locations;
• Planning and capacity building of the state broadband office;
• Local coordination efforts with stakeholders across the state;
• Asset mapping across Missouri to catalog high-speed Internet adoption, affordability, equity, access and deployment;
• Conducting surveys of communities to better understand barriers to Internet adoption;
• Supporting workforce development, including accelerated education and training to develop the talent needed for building broadband infrastructure.

For Digital Equity Act planning efforts, Missouri will receive $827,338 to fund various activities including:

• Development of a statewide digital equity plan to close the digital equity gap;
• Engaging local communities and stakeholders on digital equity;
• Awarding subgrants for digital demonstration projects and data collection.