Digital Equity Act Grant Programs

In 2021, Congress included the Digital Equity Act in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to give U.S. states, territories, and Tribal entities the tools they need to help people adopt broadband. These governments have completed their plans and, until May 9th, were preparing to implement programs to improve digital literacy, access to affordable internet-connected devices, provide technical support, and increase awareness of privacy and cybersecurity.

The $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act is comprised of three grant programs administered by the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA): 

1. The $60 million Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, 
2. The $1.44 billion Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, and 
3. The $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.

1. Digital Equity Planning Grant Program

The Digital Equity Planning Grant Program provided $60 million to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Tribal entities for the purposes of developing digital equity plans to increase the adoption and meaningful use of broadband by residents of those states.

Through the Digital Equity Act, states were charged with developing measurable objectives and indicators that demonstrate progress among each “covered population” across five focus areas in their plans:

1. The availability of affordable broadband. 
2. The online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services.
3. Digital literacy.
4. Awareness and use of measures to secure online privacy and cybersecurity.
5. The availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices.

NTIA has already approved the digital equity plans of all 56 eligible states and territories. States are ready to get to work on implementing their plans supported by Digital Equity Capacity Grant funding.

• In New Mexico’s Digital Equity Plan, the state aims to ensure all New Mexicans can access information or training to learn how to protect their security and privacy online. To do this, the state would have used its $8 million in Capacity Grant Program funds to:
  • improve online safety and privacy protection education, 
  • support access to practices and tools that support online safety and privacy, and
  • increase the number of training programs and opportunities available.
• Maine planned to use its $5.7 million in Capacity Grant Program funding to create a comprehensive digital opportunity program, including support for internet access, digital skills building, and internet safety education. The state also planned to conduct a statewide device donation and refurbishment campaign, as well as a statewide awareness campaign for a new online directory of digital resources called Tech Help for ME.
• Two of Georgia’s priorities for its $22 million in Capacity Grant Program funds were deploying Digital Navigators to help access online education, health, financial, and government services, and expanding access to digital devices, such as upgrading public computer labs and device loan programs.

2. Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program

The Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program includes $1.44 billion in funding to be divided by states, territories and Tribal entities so that they can implement their digital equity plans.

By December 2024 NTIA had approved and recommended for award all state and U.S. territory applications for the first round of funding from the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. The first funding round of the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program made available more than $768 million for grant recipients.

3. Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program

The third program of the Digital Equity Act, the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, exists separately from––but is designed to complement––the state planning and capacity programs. The program was to provide $1.25 billion to equip individuals and communities with the skills and tools needed for full participation in society and the economy.

Eligible applicants for Digital Equity Competitive Grant funds include:

• political subdivisions of states, such as city and county governments;
• Native entities, including Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, or Native Hawaiian organizations;
• certain nonprofits;
• community anchor institutions;
• local educational agencies; and
• workforce development organizations.

United States Territories are eligible to apply for funding under a separate set-aside.

Applications for the first round of Competitive Grant Program funding closed in September 2024. NTIA reported receiving over 700 applications totaling $6.5 billion in funding requests for the program.

On January 6, 2025, NTIA recommended for award more than $250 million to 24 organizations to support digital skills and inclusion projects under the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. These awards were supposed to support 24 projects across 39 states and territories, spanning all covered populations.

The Administration has also ended this program.. The following organizations are only a few of the many that have not received their legally designated funds.

• Niagara University, Niagara, New York: Niagara University was slated to receive funding to execute technology improvements for its local public libraries, including computers that can be "checked out" for home use. The University was also planning for an expansion of its hotspot program, workstations for conferencing for job interviews and other virtual appointments; digital literacy skills training; healthcare-specific digital literacy skills training; cybersecurity training; upgrades to design, construction, and facilities and equipment of a public computer center; and online training modules for workforce development.
• City of South Bend, Indiana: South Bend aimed to use its Competitive Grant Program funds to develop a regional Digital Navigator corps, increase device distribution alongside digital skills training, and deploy flexible household technology scholarships to cover digital and technology needs. The City would have targeted training investments in device use and workplace-specific skills (e.g., coding, internet safety and cybersecurity training) and established strategic foundations of governance, fundraising, and programming for a regional digital equity fund.
• The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) proposed project activities included: 
  • the expansion of Digital Navigator Programs that provide community members with ongoing, individualized support for accessing affordable and appropriate connectivity, devices, and development of digital skills; 
  • training and professional development for Digital Navigators; 
  • distribution of hotspots; and 
  • development of sustainability action plans, individual site, and model program evaluation plans.

Back to The Digital Equity Act: What It Is and Why We Need It