The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today awarded 12 additional grants, totaling more than $33.5 million, as part of the part of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC).
The program is directing $268 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for expanding high-speed Internet access and connectivity to eligible Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and Minority-serving institutions (MSIs).
“The Internet is essential for access to work, to education, to healthcare, and to justice,” said Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, in a prepared statement. “Our Connecting Minority Communities program is about equipping students and the surrounding communities with the skills, the devices, and the capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy.”
Today’s awards are being used to expand community technology hubs, upgrade classroom technology, and increase digital literacy skills at 12 minority serving colleges and universities in 10 states:
- H. Councill Trenholm State Community College is receiving more than $2 million.
- The University of Arizona will receive a little more than $3 million.
- Loma Linda University in California was awarded just over $3.3 million.
- Florida-based Broward College was awarded just under $3 million.
- St. Augustine College in Illinois is receiving just under $2.7 million.
- Dominican University in suburban Chicago is being awarded just under $2.6 million.
- Simmons College of Kentucky, Inc. was awarded more than $2.7 million.
- North Carolina-based Elizabeth City State University is receiving $2.1 million.
- Central State University in Ohio was awarded $3 million.
