National Digital Inclusion Alliance

ACP Outreach Grants Are Here – Here’s What You Need to Know

On November 10, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially opened the application window for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Outreach Grant with the release of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applications are due January 9, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST. If you’re interested in applying for a grant, we encourage you to start the process as soon as possible, as there are several steps you will need to take. The NOFO includes information on eligibility, funding allocation, funding prioritization factors, and guidance on how to prepare for receiving grant f

NDIA Adds Community Perspectives on FCC Digital Discrimination Process

The Federal Communications Commission is engaging the public in a few ways in its effort to learn about different perspectives on digital discrimination. Beginning with the Notice of Inquiry (NOI), the FCC asked for input on how to implement the digital discrimination section of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). In May, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) submitted comments on our perspective of how the FCC should implement rules to prevent and eliminate digital discrimination.

Calling All Coalitions: This Is Your Chance to Contribute to State Digital Equity Plans

In Fall 2022, states, territories, and the District of Columbia (DC) will receive Digital Equity Act (DEA) Planning Grant awards – and, with approximately a year to develop their state digital equity plan, they’ll start the process quickly. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requires states, territories and DC (or the administering entities) to engage with a variety of stakeholders in creating the plan, including community anchor institutions, county and municipal governments, local educational agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

NDIA Awards 18 National Digital Navigator Corps Grants in Rural & Tribal Areas

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) awarded 18 grants to recipient organizations, who will together launch the National Digital Navigator Corps. The grants are part of support from Google.org, which will go toward hiring community-based digital navigators alongside programmatic and technical support to further develop NDIA’s digital navigator model for rural and Tribal communities. The grants, which total more than $6.6 million, are for two-and-a-half-year periods and range between $320,540 and $389,840 each, depending on the need and proposal. Seven of the grantees are Tribal-le

Planning to Build a New Digital Skills Curriculum? Read This First

Supporting digital skills building is a complicated aspect of digital inclusion work. Luckily, there is no need to build an entire curriculum or even lessons entirely from scratch.

NDIA Names 32 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer Local Governments & Regions

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) announced its largest group yet of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers. 2022 saw a record number of submissions pour in from across the country, with the highest number of applicants yet achieving a six-star score, meeting 100 percent of the evaluation criteria.

NDIA Encourages FCC to Engage Trusted Community Organizations in ACP Outreach

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) encouraged the Federal Communications Commission to involve trusted community organizations in outreach efforts for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). NDIA submitted comments to the FCC regarding the implementation of an ACP outreach grant program and a pilot program focused on promoting ACP enrollment among households participating in Federal Public Housing Assistance programs In addition to the $14.2 billion Congress provided

NDIA Submits Comments to FCC on ‘Digital Discrimination’ Definition and Rules

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the implementation of the digital discrimination section in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. NDIA submitted comments urging the FCC to:

What the NTIA's Requirements for $42.5 Billion in BEAD Funding Say About Digital Equity

This is the third in a four-part series about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) digital equity and broadband grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has identified how the BEAD Program will intersect with the Digital Equity Act Program and how the two complement each other:

The First Bucket of Digital Equity Act Funds is Open

This is the second in a four-part series about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) digital equity and broadband grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Sifting through the Digital Equity Act (DEA) NOFO, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) identified the following highlights:

SHLB and NDIA Call for Senate Confirmation of FCC Nominee Gigi Sohn

We strongly urge you to take concerted action to promote the nomination of Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society] to be a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. Sohn has been a long-time advocate for internet freedom, consumer protection, and digital inclusivity. The FCC cannot move forward on several significant public interest issues until Ms. Sohn is confirmed by the full US Senate.

Digital Inclusion Guide for States: How to Prepare for Success in Your State Digital Equity Planning

This guide provides state and territory leaders with simple, tactical steps to prepare now for planning and eventual implementation of digital equity strategies. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Digital Equity Act (DEA) funds the creation and implementation of statewide digital equity plans.

NTIA Hires Angela Thi Bennett as First-Ever Digital Equity Director

Angela Thi Bennett is now serving as the first-ever digital equity director at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), within the US Department of Commerce. She will move from her current position as DigitalC’s director of advocacy, where she has been a strong champion for digital inclusion in Cleveland (OH). Angela has also been deeply engaged in national digital equity work for years with National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA).

NDIA Encourages FCC to Engage Trusted Community Organizations in Affordable Connectivity Program Outreach

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) encouraged the Federal Communications Commission to involve trusted community organizations in outreach efforts for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). NDIA also addressed a pilot program focused on promoting ACP enrollment among households participating in Federal Public Housing Assistance programs. NDIA urged the FCC to:

Digital Inclusion Coalition Guidebook

This guidebook provides an in-depth look at successful models and recurring themes across digital inclusion coalitions, accompanied by best practices, lessons learned, and specific recommendations from the field. The guidebook is intended for individuals and organizations who are committed to advancing digital equity in their community and who recognize the value of coalitions in achieving that goal. Key themes include:

Nine of the Nation’s Leading Digital Inclusion Advocates Launch Airwaves for Equity Coalition

Nine of the nation’s leading digital equity organizations announced the launch of Airwaves for Equity, a coalition focused on asking Congress to dedicate the net proceeds from future spectrum auctions to support digital literacy and inclusion efforts.

NDIA Announces $10 Million Grant from Google.org to Remove Digital Divide Roadblocks for Rural & Tribal Communities

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) announced a multi-year, $10 million grant from Google.org to create a National Digital Navigator Corps.

Five Digital Literacy Resources You Need to Know About

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance compiled a sampling of free, online digital literacy resources that demonstrate the diversity of curricula and methods that can be explored to help determine what works best for your community:

 

NDIA Requests FCC Update and Release of Broadband Adoption Data

To ensure Congress's largest-ever broadband and digital equity investments are here to stay, we must have robust and accurate broadband adoption data. Unfortunately, such broadband adoption data is not currently publicly available. While the Federal Communications Commission's maps were updated in 2021 with 2020 data, the broadband adoption data was not released. The importance of having robust, accurate, and timely data can not be overstated.

Last Chance to Submit a Nomination for Digital Equity Champions

January 4, 2022 is the deadline to nominate one or more people for the Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion Award and the Emerging Leader Award. Named for Charles Benton, the founder of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, the awards will be presented at Net Inclusion 2022 next month in Portland, Oregon.

NDIA, SHLB & 68 Organizations Share Support for FCC & NTIA Nominees

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition wrote a joint letter of support urging the Senate Commerce Committee to quickly conduct hearings and speedily confirm President Biden’s nominees to the Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Digital Inclusion Policy Priories

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance prioritizes equity. This means our digital inclusion work prioritizes people who have been left behind in the digital age. NDIA’s policy priorities focus on expanding access to affordable broadband service, appropriate devices, and digital skills training and support. NDIA bridges the community of digital inclusion practitioners and policymakers with a unified voice advocating for broadband access, devices, digital skills training, and tech support.