Rep. McNerney Introduces Legislation to Close the Digital Divide

Rep Jerry McNerney (D-CA-09) introduced HR 4486, the Digital Equity Act of 2019, along with his colleagues Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-NM-03) and Rep Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-09), Vice-Chair of the House Commerce Committee. The legislation seeks to close gaps in broadband adoption and promote digital skills training and digital literacy. ​The Digital Equity Act would establish two grant programs that would be administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to promote digital equity nationwide. The grant funding would be used for projects at the state and local levels. Specifically, HR 4486 would:

• Create the State Digital Equity Capacity Program, an annual $125 million formula grant program for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to fund the creation and implementation of comprehensive digital equity plans in each state.
• Create an annual $125 million Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program to support digital inclusion projects undertaken by individual organizations and communities.
• Task NTIA with evaluating digital inclusion projects and providing policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels with detailed information about which projects are most effective.