Biden-Harris Administration Awards $9 Million to Nevada to Advance Digital Inclusion Efforts

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded more than $9 million to Nevada to implement its Digital Equity Plan. Nevada is the first state to receive funding through the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, one of three Digital Equity Act grant programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. States will use this funding to implement their digital equity plans, which outline how states will empower individuals and communities with the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to benefit from meaningful access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service. Nevada plans to use the funding to implement key digital initiatives, including the following examples:

• To address affordability and access, the state plans to deploy Digital Navigators, promote community Wi-Fi and computer labs at Community Anchor Institutions, and provide assistance in applying for low-cost plans.
• To provide increased access to devices and tech support, the state plans to establish a Device Distribution Matching Fund with private sector support, leverage digital navigators to provide tech support in Community Anchor Institutions, and create a statewide device distribution ecosystem.
• To address digital literacy and skills, Nevada plans to create a public Digital Equity System Asset Map, provide grant training and support to community partners, create a statewide framework for digital skills trainings curriculum, and fund digital literacy classes and on-demand technical support.
• To increase adoption, awareness, and sustainability, Nevada plans to create a Digital Equity Dashboard and Digital Equity Investment Map.

As required by the Digital Equity Act, the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program will be established within 30 days of this first State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program award and will make hundreds of millions of dollars available in the first Notice of Funding Opportunity to implement digital equity projects.