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.
The ambitious undertaking is supported by a $20 million grant awarded under the 2021 Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.
Satellite companies want easier access, while carriers say that could upend licenses they purchased.
The agency tapped Tricia J. Paoletta and Matthew Plaster as senior advisors
The fire chiefs voiced strong support in May 2025 for NextNav’s new technology, before shifting gears just last month.
Member discussion