National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s Post

NTIA Making Resources Available to Help States Turn Digital Equity Plans into Reality Kevin Taglang | Analysis | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society On March 29, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. Through this program, NTIA is making funding available for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations to turn their digital equity plans into digital inclusion activities. State Digital Equity Capacity Grants can be used for five purposes: To update or maintain a state's digital equity plan (although no more than 20 percent of the grant can be used for this purpose), To implement a state's digital equity plan, To make subgrants to implement a state's digital equity plan,2 To evaluate subgrantees' efforts (although no more than 5 percent of the grant can be used for this purpose), and Administrative costs (although no more than 3 percent of the grant can be used for this purpose). [more at the link below] Summary on Benton.org Back to Table of Contents

A huge thanks to Broadband Communities for bringing together fellow travelers working to close the divide this week in The Woodlands, Texas! This was our VP of Partnerships Erica Mesker first #BBCSummit. Her takeaways:   1️⃣ BEAD provides the funds to incentivize serving higher cost areas, but will NOT BE ENOUGH to fully close the digital divide; some BEAD-funded areas will succeed, some will fail, and others will be left behind. 2️⃣ Private equity sees broadband as a BIG PROFIT OPPORTUNITY but is in a “wait and see” mode to see how BEAD plays out, while salivating at the prospect of bumper returns in a coming wave of consolidation. It’s being called a “get rich slow” scheme. 3️⃣ Nothing wrong with making money, I’m all for it! But in this once-in-a-generation opportunity, we need to make sure that funding “sticks” to local and regional economies and not just extracted to maximize shareholder value at the detriment to actually connecting people. Most who spoke at the conference want this too, saying communities need a “seat at the table,” but also “need skin in the game.” Best summed up by Jim Baller (paraphrasing): “The ideal scenario is that communities are informed of their choices and do not have outside forces dictating their choices.” There is an opportunity to do things differently and choose partners wisely. Connect Humanity is ready to be a key partner and resource, particularly in Appalachia, to uplift the region through non-extractive, community-centric broadband investments.   And, as ever, it's been fantastic to meet IRL with our friends and partners, including the brilliant Elizabeth Sanner from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

The Illinois Office of Broadband published a draft State Digital Equity Plan, following a 55-stop statewide listening tour, survey, and analysis of digital equity gaps, assets, and needs. Aurora , IL participated in the tour. The State Digital Equity Plan will inform Illinois’ five-year strategy to achieve digital equity, including how it structures a digital equity grant program. Your input can shape the Office of Broadband’s strategy! https://lnkd.in/gkcA6YF9

The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will be accepting applications for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant from August 14 until September 23, 2024. Award amounts range from $5M to $12M and are intended to fund projects that will support efforts to achieve digital equity, promote digital inclusion activities, and spur greater adoption and meaningful use of broadband among Covered Populations. You can find the Notice of Funding Opportunity and application resources on the NTIA website at https://lnkd.in/d9q85xqx. Interested applicants who do not already have an active SAM.gov account are advised to register for an account early. To review North Dakota’s Digital Equity Plan, for inspiration or alignment, go to https://broadband.nd.gov.

Keeping up with government funding deadlines can be an overwhelming process. Our #free resource provides insight into 'When To Apply For Funding.' Learn how to assess your funding needs, discover the right grant fit, and apply with preparation. https://hubs.li/Q02R63DQ0

#Happening tomorrow! Register here: https://bit.ly/3wIBiOa Discover insights from local governments collaborating with both OGP and CoST - Infrastructure Transparency Initiative! This engaging workshop will focus on their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned while implementing OGP commitments related to Infrastructure Transparency. Don't miss out!

Now presenting: the UME Marylanders Online's Fiscal Year 2024 Impact Report! Take a look to learn how we're closing the digital divide by empowering thousands of Marylanders with essential tech skills and digital connectivity. The full report is available on our website: https://lnkd.in/e5qEHUNB. Some key highlights from FY24 include: 🛜 Expanding digital connectivity and access for 5,400 Marylanders through 89 Affordable Connectivity Program (#ACP) events and 155 device distributions. 💡Training 1,400 individuals and 320 digital navigators through over 100 classes. ☎️ Handling 17,120 Helpline calls, including bilingual assistance for 9% of callers. Marylanders Online thanks the University of Maryland Extension, the community, partners, funders, and all other entities who have contributed to the many tangible achievements of this #DigitalLiteracy project. Together, we are working to ensure that both present and future Marylanders have the opportunity to thrive in the rapidly evolving digital world. #Maryland #DigitalInclusion #DigitalConnectivity #TechSkills #Training #FY24impact #DigitalDivide

EDWC provides a range of services for businesses within or relocating to Washington County. Find out what EDWC can do for you, including: ☑ Structuring the Deal (incentives, low-interest financing and more) ☑ Providing Subordinate Financing for Your Projects ☑ Putting Data to Work Through Consulting and Analysis (site selection, workforce data, economic impact reports, and more) Download our brochure to find out more about how we help businesses grow and thrive in Washington County, Wisconsin. #businessgrowth #subordinatefinancing #impactloanfund #rlf #workforcedata #siteselection #growingprosperity

💥 Did you catch our recent webinar? 💥 Marketlinks recently hosted a webinar, “Migration and Market Access: Connecting #Venezuelan Communities in #Colombia to Emergency Employment, Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Opportunities.” Watch the replay to learn more about our host’s approach, successes, and challenges of working with a highly motivated, highly vulnerable population. Watch the replay ⬇️ https://ow.ly/fNb850SYbMB

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Here's a quick look https://lnkd.in/g2QAeUUP