New York State Assembly Announces $15 Million Statewide Digital Inclusion Grant Program

The New York State Assembly's approved State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021-22 Budget includes the Assembly’s proposal to establish a new $15 million statewide Digital Inclusion Grant Program to assist local efforts to bring digital equity to individuals left out of today’s essential digital technology. New York now joins the national movement to support statewide programs that fund digital inclusion programs at the local level by providing affordable broadband access, devices and a training course with tech support to disadvantaged individuals. This statewide grant program would be administered by the State Education Department (SED). Grants would be available on an application basis to not-for-profits, schools, libraries, local governments, municipal housing authorities and other community-based organizations seeking to provide digital inclusion programs. Angela Siefer, executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), said, “The State of New York has made history. Dedicating $15 million to equitable access and use of digital tools is ground-breaking. The federal government allocated funds to subsidize home broadband access but affordably is only one barrier to digital equity. New York’s Digital Inclusion Grant Program will support the on-the-ground work necessary to help the most disadvantaged sign up for and make the most of home broadband. NDIA encourages every state to follow New York’s lead.”