NTIA Awards Idaho $6.3 Million for Digital Inclusion Efforts
Funding will flow from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program
Funding will flow from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program
Oct. 17, 2024 - Federal regulators took another step on Wednesday toward connecting every American with equitable access to broadband internet.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the federal regulatory body responsible for advising the president on telecommunications and information policy, awarded more than $6.3 million in funding to Idaho to implement its digital inclusion efforts.
The funding would flow to Idaho’s Digital Equity Plan, which would provide cybersecurity and digital skills training along with device subsidies for libraries and other members of the public.
“For the first time, every state in the nation has a digital equity plan in place to promote widespread adoption of high-speed Internet services,” said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. “Idaho can now put its digital equity plan into action.”
The award is from the first round of funding provided by NTIA’s Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, which made more than $800 million available to states and territories to deploy their digital equity plans.
Kaptivate analysis finds some states’ references to rural America dropped 80 to 100 percent
Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Utah had their final proposals approved.
The approval follows recent elections where two Democrats won seats on the commission. Those Democrats oppose the plan but don't take office until January.
Lawmakers are considering how best to reform the fund.
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