Equity-Based Grant Administration at NTIA: A Case Study

The Internet powers education and the economy, supports our health and well-being, and connects us to our neighbors and those we love. Four agencies are leading the historic effort to connect the entire nation and provide Internet for All. This case study captures insights from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIA knows that meaningfully connecting everyone in America requires more than Internet access alone. All people and communities must also have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy, which cannot be achieved through a one-size-fits-all approach. To accomplish this, NTIA is implementing programs funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), both enacted in 2021. The CAA established the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives (OMBI) and authorized the Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program. This case study details some of the successes and lessons of the OMBI and CMC.