Adoption

This manual supports States, Territories, and the District of Columbia as they implement their digital equity plans and create sustainable, robust statewide digital equity ecosystems.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Kentucky’s Digital Equity plan. Using $874,236.00 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, Kentucky created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted New York’s Digital Equity plan. Using $2,178,650.00 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, New York created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Indiana’s Digital Equity plan. Using $842,235.00 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, Indiana created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted New Hampshire’s Digital Equity plan. Using $525,034.00 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, New Hampshire created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state.

The nation’s largest prison and jail telecommunications corporation, Securus, effectively defaulted on more than a billion dollars of debt. After decades of preying on incarcerated people and their loved ones with exploitative call rates and other predatory practices that have driven millions of families into debt, Securus is being crushed under the weight of its own. In March 2024, the company’s creditors gave the corporation an eight-month extension to pay up, urging its sale to a new owner to stave off an otherwise imminent bankruptcy.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Arizona’s Digital Equity plan. Using $1,116,110.00 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, Arizona created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state. 

I’ve heard rumors for years that the policymakers in DC never expected the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to be permanent. The expectation of the original architects of the plan was that ISPs would bow to public pressure to fill the void when ACP ran dry. However, the giant ISPs are not likely to self-fund the discounts and smaller ISPs can’t afford to do so. I’ve seen some recent articles that argue that the Federal Communications Commission could employ the Universal Service Fund.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted California’s Digital Equity plan. Using $4,001,520.00 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, California created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state.  

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Nebraska’s Digital Equity plan. Using $598,746.00 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, Nebraska created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state.