Angela Thi Bennett of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s outlined the components of a state-provided digital equity plan in the agency’s webinar on May 18, 2022.
The Digital Equity Act provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides $2.75 billion for promoting digital equity, and the NTIA released its Notice of Funding Opportunity on that program on May 13, 2022.
The Digital Equity Act program is split into three subsections. The first provides funding for states to develop a digital equity plan. States will use this digital equity plan for the competitive grant portion that awards states with funds to implement said plan, pursue digital inclusion, and facilitate adoption of high-speed internet.
Bennett added that NTIA will provide a toolkit for states preparing their digital equity plans. The toolkit will present best practices and advice for coordinating with local leaders and developing digital literacy in communities.
The state-provided plan must include a stated vision for digital equity and measurable objectives to achieve that vision. States will be required to identify potential and real barriers preventing them from providing digital equity in their state.
Additionally, states are required to collaborate with key stakeholders to achieve digital equity goals. States must establish coordination and outreach strategies with stakeholders and will identify the organizations that contributed to the plan.
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