California Takes Steps Towards Digital Equity

On October 25, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded over $70 million in funding to California through the Digital Equity Act's Capacity Grant Program. The California Department of Technology (CDT), in partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), developed a Digital Equity Plan that details how the state will use this funding to strive toward digital equity for all in California. The plan envisions a California in which all residents have access to high-performance broadband, affordable service and devices, and the training and support necessary to enable digital inclusion for economic and other social benefits. With this Digital Equity Capacity Grant funding and a plan geared toward long-term growth and sustainability, the state is taking steps toward making this vision a reality. Here, we take a look at what exactly California plans to do—and when.