Senator Murray Announces Open Applications for $1 Billion Digital Inclusion Grant Program Funded by Murray’s Digital Equity Act

ICYMI: Senator Murray Passes Digital Equity Act, Helps Secure $65 Billion in Broadband Investments

ICYMI: Senator Murray Announces $811 Million in Available Funding from Her Landmark Digital Equity Act to Help States and Tribes Close Digital Divide, Nearly $16 Million Expected for WA State

Murray first authored and introduced the Digital Equity Act in 2019 and got it passed into law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Washington DC - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the availability of nearly $1 mil millones in funding for the Digital Inclusion Grant Program, which ensures that communities have access to the devices and skills needed to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The funding comes from Murray’s Ley de equidad digital, which was passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Murray’s Digital Equity Act will help close the digital divide by funding activities that seek to provide individuals and communities with the skills, supports, and technologies necessary to take full advantage of a broadband internet connection when they have one. This is the first funding opportunity from the Digital Equity Act’s $1.25 billion Competitive Grant Program.

“I wrote the Digital Equity Act before the pandemic because even then it was so glaringly apparent that we needed to do more to make sure that everyone can make the most of high-speed internet once they have it,” dijo el senador Murray. “With today’s announcement, everyone from local school districts and libraries to workforce training programs and Tribes will be able to compete for digital equity grants. These federal dollars will make a big difference—digital equity is about making sure seniors can navigate telehealth options, ensuring students have the resources they need to learn, helping entrepreneurs understand how best to connect their small business to an online audience, and so much more. I am encouraging all eligible organizations in Washington state to learn more and apply for federal digital equity grants today.”

Bajo la Notice of Funding Opportunity released today, a variety of organizations can apply on a competitive basis for funding. Eligible applicants include political subdivisions of states, such as city and county governments; Native entities including Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, or Native Hawaiian organizations; certain nonprofits; community anchor institutions; local educational agencies; and workforce development organizations. Applications are due by September 23; U.S. territory applications are due by October 22. Application resources are available at ntia.gov. NTIA expects to begin making awards under this NOFO by Winter of 2024 and will issue awards on a rolling basis.

El senador Murray presentó por primera vez el Ley de equidad digital in 2019 and worked hard to construir una coalición sólida de más de 100 organizaciones para asegurar un fuerte consenso bipartidista y apoyo para su legislación, finalmente aprobándola como parte de la Ley de Infraestructura Bipartidista. del senador Murray Ley de equidad digital provided $2.75 billion to establish three federal grant programs, administered by the NTIA, to promote digital equity nationwide by:

• Fortalecimiento de la capacidad dentro de los estados a través de subvenciones de fórmula: Crea un programa de subvenciones de fórmula de $300 millones por año de cinco años para los 50 estados, el Distrito de Columbia y Puerto Rico para financiar la creación e implementación de planes integrales de equidad digital en cada estado.
• Estimular la acción dirigida a través de subvenciones competitivas: Crea un programa competitivo de subvenciones de cinco años de $250 millones por año para apoyar proyectos de inclusión digital llevados a cabo por grupos individuales, coaliciones y / o comunidades de interés.
• Apoyar la investigación y la formulación de políticas basadas en evidencias: Hace que la NTIA evalúe proyectos de equidad digital y proporcione a los legisladores a nivel local, estatal y federal información detallada sobre qué proyectos son más efectivos.

Digital equity funds can be used in all kinds of ways to support Washington state families and our economy:

• Workforce: supporting the work of local workforce boards, community and technical colleges, and community-based organizations by increasing access to devices across underserved populations, increasing the digital skills of Washington’s current and future workforce, and by increasing the accessibility of state and local resources to workers.
• Educación: supporting Washington’s public schools, community and technical colleges, and community-based organizations as they work to integrate technology literacy and fluency in their curriculum, reducing barriers and advancing access to technology, including digital devices, internet connection, and digital skills training.
• Health Care: supporting the Washington Department of Health and the Washington State Health Care Authority in expanding opportunities for Washingtonians to access telehealth services, reducing the need to travel long distances in rural areas for preventative and specialist care. Additionally, the digital equity funds could be used to work with partner organizations to expand the availability and awareness of culturally sensitive and linguistically accessible online healthcare resources and services.
• And so much more.

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