Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $6.2 Million to Virginia in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Virginia 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. Virginia is receiving $6,222,051.95 in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state. 

Virginia will receive $4,999,975.50 to fund various activities including:

• Supporting Virginia’s "Commonwealth Connect Plan," including the creation of a 5-year action plan identifying Virginia's broadband access, affordability, opportunity, and high-speed Internet adoption needs;
• Increasing capacity of the broadband office;
• Establishing a Virginia Digital Opportunity Initiative Planning Grant Program, meant to help address digital opportunity at the local and regional levels;
• Awarding funding to 128 local government units.

Virginia will receive $1,222,076.45 to fund various activities including:

• Developing the Commonwealth’s Digital Opportunity Plan, including the hiring of a Digital Opportunity Coordinator;
• Engaging local and regional stakeholders to gather information, conduct broadband needs assessments, and formulate plans to address digital equity concerns at the regional level;
• Funding subawards for planning and mini-grant programs at the regional level for data collection, community engagement and other activities.