Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a public notice on August 25 seeking public comment on the application forms it will use for a revived Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, the first public confirmation that work on the program's relaunch is underway. The notice opens a 60-day comment period under the Paperwork Reduction Act, with comments due October 26, 2026, and is a revision of an existing clearance (OMB Control Number 0660–0055) rather than a new one.

In a joint status report filed August 17, 2026, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and the U.S.

A recent court ruling holds good news for digital skills advocates, signaling that $1.25 billion in Digital Equity Act funding is back on the table. National Skills Coalition Senior Government Affairs Manager Caroline Treschitta and Senior Fellow Amanda Bergson-Shilcock explain what happened and what it means for skills advocates.

There seems to be an increasing chance that the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program is back in play. In a status report filed by the Department of Commerce in the lawsuit where the National Digital Inclusion Alliance filed to reinstate the grant program, the government said it is targeting a December 2026 opening date for applications for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Like everything associated with the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program and the Digital Equity Grant programs, nothing is final until this is put in place.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced the awardees of $6 million in funding through the Digital Literacy Training Grant aimed at helping to close the digital gap among Work First New Jersey recipients. WFNJ provides essential support to eligible New Jersey residents and their families, including cash assistance, childcare, job readiness, and short-term housing. The FY26 awardees of the Digital Literacy Training Grant include: 

Cities, counties, nonprofits, libraries, community colleges, and workforce organizations waiting to learn whether the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program is coming back now have a glimmer of hope, albeit a soft one.

Samantha Schartman, director of philanthropic programs at Connect Humanity, a nonprofit impact investor and emerging Community Development Financial Institution; and Mark Colwell, executive director at Mission Telecom, a nonprofit telecom provider, discuss the importance of funding digital inclusion initiatives and, specifically, the recent publication of their 

Today’s blog is a tale of two counties that were successful in attracting broadband grant investments and now want to pivot to making sure that residents are able to take advantage of the newly constructed fiber networks. Both counties are encountering an unexpected roadblock. Both counties that did things the right way. Both counties put a lot of effort into attracting better broadband. They funded major feasibility studies.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a Report and Order on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, changing some key elements of broadband consumer labels. The broadband consumer labels were mandated by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), requiring all internet service providers (ISPs) to adopt and display the labels by October 10, 2024.

U.S. states and territories are making progress on their broadband goals this summer. A number of state-run initiatives have been launched, and several infrastructure projects are in full swing. While it's easy to have all eyes on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program—and, hypocritically, more on that later—there are countless other actions states are taking to ensure robust broadband access and universal digital adoption. From infrastructure planning to deployment to increasing awareness and resources, states are doing it all.