Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $3.1 Million to South Dakota in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that South Dakota 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. South Dakota is receiving $3,131,269.95 in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by President Biden, to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state. For the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, South Dakota will receive $2,604,218.30 to fund various activities including:

• Development of a comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan that ensures all residents of South Dakota have access to reliable, affordable, and high-speed internet service;
• Providing technical assistance to potential subgrantees, including through workshops and events;
• Establishing, operating, or increasing capacity of a broadband office that oversees broadband programs and broadband deployment.

For the Digital Equity Act's planning efforts, South Dakota will receive $527,051.65 to fund various activities including:

• Community and stakeholder engagement;
  Development of a robust State Digital Equity Plan.