Last week, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved five more states’ applications and one territory’s application for funding from the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program.
The announcement said, “States will use this funding to implement their digital equity plans, which outline how they will empower individuals and communities with the tools and skills necessary to benefit from meaningful access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.”
The six new NTIA digital equity awards include grants for five states and Puerto Rico.
According to the announcement, the awardees will use the NTIA digital equity grants in a variety of ways:
Delaware: $4,816,482
- Digital navigators and assistants will help library patrons build their digital skills and locate needed services.
- The Delaware Department of Labor will offer training to the IT industry in wrap-around services for eligible clients and will market the program.
Louisiana: $12,727,887
- Establish a statewide framework for digital skills attainment; monitor and promote ongoing activities related to digital skill development throughout the public sector to help residents identify and access digital skill training.
- Develop a statewide strategy for creating sustainable access to low-cost technology and devices.
Missouri: $14,237,940
- Create a local program to support affordability, digital skills, and access to low-cost, large screen devices.
- Create a virtual health program to increase the telehealth service capacity of the state’s medical facilities.
Oklahoma: $11,233,311
- Devices for Oklahoman Transformation (DOT) will procure refurbished devices through an outside vendor for community institutions and organizations.
- Research on locations with poor health outcomes will be conducted. Subsequently, a health organization will be selected to implement the health care van program to expand telehealth services where critically needed.
Tennessee: $15,814,288
- Tennessee State Library and Archives Grant (TOP): facilitates interagency agreement for three years, expanding access to technical assistance, especially for aging individuals, covered households, English language learners, and rural residents providing digital skills training and device purchases.
- Broadband Access Grant (BAG): a new program partnering nonprofits with ISPs to provide digital skills training, outreach on low-cost internet options, and free/reduced household broadband subscriptions.
Puerto Rico: $9,807,187
- Provide digital literacy skills in workforce development, including online security and privacy awareness training.
- Fund the Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service to oversee the education and training of IT personnel in the government on cybersecurity.
- Address the digital literacy and skills needs through training of older adults and people with disabilities.
“We look forward to working with the awardees to ensure all residents have the tools and skills to take advantage of quality, affordable high-speed Internet — whether it’s for work, education, health care, or any other essential service,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
The awards announced last week — as well as the 13 announced previously — come from the first round of the NTIA Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, which made more than $800 million (of the total $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program) available to states.
