Too many communities lack access to high-speed internet. Many more can’t afford it or don’t know how to use it. The divide between those who have internet access and those who don’t is stark. To create an equitable economy, we all need access to affordable broadband internet and the tools needed to make full use of the internet.
What is digital equity? According to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA),
“Digital Equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.”
In short, internet affordability programs, refurbished internet devices, website accessibility initiatives, and digital skill training and education all move us closer to digital equity. In West Virginia and across the country, there is much work to be done to expand these services to historically underserved and underrepresented communities.
The Digital Equity Act allocates $2.75 billion to achieve digital equity and close the digital divide through three grant programs:
- State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program: A $60M formula grant program for states, territories and tribal governments to develop digital equity plans.
- West Virginia was awarded over $732,000 to develop a state digital equity plan. The State Digital Equity Plan can be found on the plans page.
- State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program: A $1.44 billion formula grant program for states, territories, and tribal governments to implement digital equity plans.
- West Virginia has been allocated over $9 million in the first of three funding tranches. Our application was submitted to NTIA on May 15, 2024, and we are currently awaiting approval.
- West Virginia’s next two funding packages are estimated to be over $3 million each.
- Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program: A $1.25 billion grant program for state agencies, nonprofits, community anchor institutions, workforce development groups, local education agencies (LEAs), and partnerships, to fund digital equity projects.
- Awards will be anywhere between $5 million and $12 million.
- The first round of funding closed on September 23, 2024. NTIA will allocate $750 million to entities across the country. Awards are expected to be announced beginning Winter 2024.
- At least one more round of awards will open for applicants in 2025.
The Digital Equity Act mandates each awardee to focus planning and implementation on eight historically unserved covered populations. These include:
- Individuals who live in covered households (low-income households);
- West Virginia population percentage: 27.8%
- Aging individuals;
- West Virginia population percentage: 28.3%
- Incarcerated individuals, other than individuals who are incarcerated in a Federal correctional facility;
- West Virginia population percentage: 0.6%
- Veterans;
- West Virginia population percentage: 6.2%
- Individuals with disabilities;
- West Virginia population percentage: 20%
- Individuals with a language barrier, including individuals who are English learners; and have low levels of literacy;
- West Virginia population percentage: 15.5%
- Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group;
- West Virginia population percentage: 10.2%
- Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area.
- West Virginia population percentage: 90%
Overall, 97% of West Virginians fall into at least one of these categories—among the highest percentages for any state or territory in the nation.
For more information, please visit the Digital Equity Act Population Viewer.