NTIA Offering Grants So You Can Help Get Covered Populations Online

On July 24, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the availability of nearly $1 billion to fund programs that ensure communities have access to devices and skills needed to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances. NTIA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, an initiative created by Congress in the Digital Equity Act of 2021 (a part of the larger Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). The Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program will support applications that further one or more of the following goals:

• economic stability, including workforce development and employment opportunities; 
• access to quality education; 
• access to healthcare; 
• social and civic engagement; and
• community access to the benefits of Internet technology.