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 fast, reliable, and affordable high-speed internet.
The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. They aim to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy.
The three programs are:
- State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program: A $60M formula grant program for states, territories and tribal governments to develop digital equity plans.
- This is the program that the WV Office of Broadband and partners are currently implementing, which is centered on the development and implementation of digital equity and inclusion initiatives with a focus on the eight covered populations as defined by NTIA.
- Those eight covered populations are:
- Individuals who live in covered households;
- Aging individuals;
- Incarcerated individuals, other than individuals who are incarcerated in a Federal correctional facility;
- Veterans;
- Individuals with disabilities;
- Individuals with a language barrier, including individuals who are English learners; and have low levels of literacy;
- Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group;
- Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area.
- Those eight covered populations are:
- West Virginia was recently awarded a NTIA Digital Equity Planning Grant in the amount of $728,065 and is working with community members and partners to develop a collaborative State Digital Equity Plan. Additionally, there is a Steering Committee put in place to help support and guide the development of the WV Digital Equity Plan.
- This is the program that the WV Office of Broadband and partners are currently implementing, which is centered on the development and implementation of digital equity and inclusion initiatives with a focus on the eight covered populations as defined by NTIA.
- State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program: A $1.44 billion formula grant program for states, territories, and tribal governments. It will fund an annual grant program for five years in support of digital equity projects and the implementation of digital equity plans.
- Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program: A $1.25 billion grant program. It will fund annual grant programs for five years to implement digital equity projects.
Download the program info sheet (English | Español)
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 provides a historic $65 billion investment to expand internet access and build digital equity throughout the United States. The West Virginia Office of Broadband has launched the Digital Equity Pilot Program to help support and expand digital equity initiatives in West Virginia. Funding applications will be accepted until June 15, 2023.
Funds Available: Applicants may apply for grants of $2,500 or $5,000. Eligible applicants include units of local government, libraries, community and economic development agencies, educational institutions and programs, and nonprofit organizations. Units of local government, and non-profit organizations. A total of $25,000 is available for this pilot program.
Eligible Activities: To address West Virginia’s internet service gaps and its digital divide, funds will be used to support innovative programs that support, promote, and enhance digital equity in West Virginia. Applications under this announcement will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The degree to which the project will increase economic development in an underserved or unserved area will receive higher priority.
- Projects that demonstrate adequate capacity to administer the project will receive higher priority.
- Projects that demonstrate detailed and measurable outcomes will receive higher priority.
- Projects that demonstrate a high degree of demand from end users for the project services will receive higher priority.
Applicants are encouraged to align proposed projects with the requirements of the Digital Equity Notice of Funding Opportunity and West Virginia’s Digital Equity Plan Proposal.