The New York State Digital Equity Plan––created by the state's ConnectALL Office––envisions a state transformed by digital infrastructure that brings to all New York residents access to high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband for education, economic growth, and full participation in civic life. With this vision and plan, the state is beginning to implement its programs, supported by over $36 million in funding from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration's (NTIA) Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. According to NTIA, ConnectALL will use its $36 million in funding to undertake the following key initiatives:

• Fund new and existing programs that distribute new and refurbished devices, such as computers or laptops.
• Fund tech support programs as a job-readiness pathway.
• Develop digital safety trainings that protect against stolen data, scams, surveillance, and online harassment.

Keep reading for more specifics on ConnectALL's digital equity goals, key activities, and full implementation timeline.

Implementation Timeline

ConnectALL's proposed timeline organizes its evaluation efforts by year and quarter. Throughout its timeline, the office uses as a baseline metric for tracking the progress of its Digital Equity Asset Inventory. The Asset Inventory is a crowdsourced, searchable database of programs, organizations, plans, and other resources currently available within the state. The following timeline accounts for the entire proposed slate of activity included in the state's digital equity plan, including past activities from 2024.

2024

First Quarter: Final New York State Digital Equity Plan submitted to NTIA.

Second Quarter: Released NTIA Capacity Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), convened stakeholders, and used Asset Inventory baseline as a preliminary regional ecosystem map.

Third Quarter: Submitted New York State DE Capacity Grant submission to NTIA, received NTIA DE Capacity Grant award, designed docket, convened stakeholders, and updated baseline.

Fourth Quarter: Approved docket design, convened stakeholders, distributed grants to Tech Assistance clinics (this provides funds to digital inclusion groups to advance collaborative capacities to grow the digital equity ecosystem), and launched DE Capacity Grant 2025-2026 Request for Proposal (RFP).

Funds Spent in 2024: 0%

Year 0: Inventory of 964 assets represents the measure of baseline capacity for New York

2025

First Quarter: Begin Digital Equity Capacity Grant 2025-2026 Request for Proposal (RFP intake, data validation, and application review/scoring.

Second Quarter: Award ConnectALL DE Capacity Grants for 2025-2026, manage grants, and begin projects.

Third Quarter: Continue managing grants, conduct site visits and formative assessments, and maintain baseline updates and mapping.

Fourth Quarter: Continue managing grants, complete End of Year (EOY) reporting, and convene stakeholders for Year 1 review.

Funds Spent in 2025: 25%

Year 1: Inventory of 964 assets increase by approximately 5%

2026

First Quarter: Complete mid-cycle evaluations and manage grants.

Second Quarter: Conduct site visits, baseline updates and mapping, and manage grants.

Third Quarter: Complete 2027-2029 RFP docket design, convene stakeholders, and develop formative assessments.

Fourth Quarter: Manage grants, complete EOY reporting, convene stakeholders for Year 2 review, execute a summative evaluation, and launch New York State (NYS) 2027-2029 RFP.

Funds Spent in 2026: 25%

Year 2: Inventory of 1,012 assets increase by approximately 5%

2027

First Quarter: Complete NYS 2027-2029 RFP intake, data validation, and application review and scoring.

Second Quarter: Distribute NYS 2027-2029 awards and manage grants.

Third Quarter: Manage grants, conduct site visits and formative assessments, and maintain baseline updates and continued mapping.

Fourth Quarter: Manage grants, complete EOY reporting, convene stakeholders, and conduct summative evaluation.

Funds Spent in 2027: 20%

Year 3: Inventory of 1,063 assets increase by approximately 5%

2028

First Quarter: Conduct mid-cycle evaluations and manage grants.

Second Quarter: Manage grants, conduct site visits, and maintain baseline updates and continued mapping.

Third Quarter: Manage grants and conduct formative assessments.

Fourth Quarter: Manage grants, conduct EOY reporting, convene stakeholders, and complete summative evaluation.

Funds Spent in 2028: 20%

Year 4: Inventory of 1,116 assets increase by approximately 5%

2029

First Quarter: Manage grants and conduct site visits.

Second Quarter: Manage grants, convene stakeholders, and conduct baseline updates and continued mapping.

Third Quarter: Manage grants, convene stakeholders, and continue conducting baseline updates and mapping.

Fourth Quarter: Close Capacity Grants and conduct final evaluations.

Funds Spent in 2028: 10%, bringing total spending to 100%

Year 5: Inventory of 1,178 assets increased by approximately 5%

TOTAL: 1,205 assets meet a projected 25% increase of capacity within the Digital Equity ecosystem from Year 0

Evaluating New York's Digital Equity Implementation Strategy

ConnectALL will conduct periodic assessments of the New York State Digital Equity Plan's implementation towards removing barriers to broadband use and closing the state's digital divide. The office will do so by:

• Drawing on statewide and federal data as collected and reported by subgrantees and via data collection, including a refresh of the Digital Equity survey every two years;
• Working with Digital Equity Coalitions, libraries, networks, and community anchor institutions, as well as labor entities, workforce agencies, and academic, Tribal, and regional partners to undertake formative and summative evaluation research that measures and documents progress toward the Outcome Areas;
• Working with state partners to draft, analyze and document data-driven and community-driven assessments of the plan’s implementation;
• Using the Asset Inventory as an in-progress and public mechanism for updates, corrections, and direction for digital equity goals;
• Undertaking a summative assessment of the Plan on an annual basis to track progress, blockers, and lessons learned;
• Gauging actual improvements and as a policy instrument, supporting where and how future funding should be invested to maintain efforts narrowing the digital divide; and
• Enacting transparent reporting regarding progress for accountability to the public.

Sample steps ConnectALL may take to surface barriers and localized needs that require adaptation, funding, and policy intervention while informing ConnectALL’s strategy overall include:

Expansion of device programs

• Conducting a quarterly landscape analysis
• ConnectALL serves as funder
• Data collection and analysis from partners

Scaling assistive tech access and compliance

• Measured by conducting an accessibility audit, launching in 2024, with periodic activity thereafter
• ConnectALL serves as funder
• Partners include public libraries and regional entities

Distribution and uptake of digital skills training

• Measured by the asset inventory, surveys, and public engagement conducted every 6-9 months
• ConnectALL serves as data collector and convener
• Partners: facilitators and research partners

Increase in multilingual and accessible digital literacy courses and materials

• Measured annually by focus groups, surveys, and localized research
• ConnectALL serves as funder
• Partners include facilitators and research partners

Increased home-based internet subscriptions using subsidies

• Measured quarterly by grantee and market monitoring, audits
• ConnectALL conducts data collection and review
• Partners include internet service providers (ISPs)

Improving Community Anchor Institution (CAI), CBO, and DEC digital equity capacity

• Measured annually through focus groups, surveys, localized research, funding portfolio reviews, and convenings
• ConnectAll conducts research, interviews, site visits, and regional convenings
• Partners include facilitators and research partners

Developing digital navigation/stewardship pathways

• Measured through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and localized research, conducted every 6-9 months
• ConnectALL serves as funder, facilitating dialogue, and maintaining relationships with partners
• Partners include facilitators and research partners

Building alignment/awareness of digital equity resources (accommodation guidance, toolkits, etc.)

• Executed through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and localized research, conducted every 6-9 months
• ConnectALL serves as funder, facilitating dialogue, and maintaining relationships with partners
• Partners include facilitators and research partners

New York Continues Expanding Broadband Access Statewide

On January 23, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced two new initiatives by the state of New York that will work to close the state's digital divide. The Affordable Broadband Act, enacted in 2021, has now taken effect; the ABA requires internet service providers (ISPs) serving over 20,000 customers to offer reduced-cost plans to qualifying households. Under the ABA, qualifying New York households can access high-speed internet at two price points: $15 per month for speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps), and $20 per month for high-speed service of at least 200 Mbps. These discounted rates are permanent, though providers may adjust prices once every five years. Any price increase must be announced 30 days in advance to customers and regulators, and are limited to the lesser of either the most recent consumer price index change or a maximum of two percent per year. New Yorkers can find information on how to qualify for reduced-cost plans here.

As detailed in the 2025 section of ConnectALL's New York State Digital Equity Plan timeline, New York is now accepting applications for funding under the $15.5 million Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant. This competitive initiative will provide two-year grants to organizations and partnerships working to bridge the digital divide through high-quality digital literacy training, device access programs, digital privacy skills development and inclusive support services. Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Monday, March 24, 2025. Apply for the Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant here.

Additional Coverage on New York's Broadband Priorities

• In a New York State of Digital Equity

• New York is Working to ConnectALL

See the latest New York broadband news

More in this Series

• When Will Nevada Implement Its Digital Equity Plan?
• Michigan Is on the Road to Closing the Digital Divide by 2030
• California Takes Steps Towards Digital Equity
• Digital Equity Funding Boosts Innovative Connectivity in Indiana
• Connecting Georgians with Digital Equity Capacity Funds
• Digital Equity Capacity in New Mexico
• Every Connecticuter Connected With Capacity Funds
• Securing Minnesota's Future with Digital Equity Capacity Funds

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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