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, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the availability of nearly $1 billion 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 Digital Equity Act, 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,” said Senator 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.”

Under the 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.

Senator Murray first introduced the Digital Equity Act in 2019 and worked hard to build a robust coalition of 100+ organizations to secure strong bipartisan consensus and support for her legislation, ultimately passing it as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Senator Murray’s Digital Equity Act provided $2.75 billion to establish three federal grant programs, administered by the NTIA, to promote digital equity nationwide by:

• Building Capacity within States through Formula Grants: Creates a five-year $300 million per year formula grant program for all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to fund the creation and implementation of comprehensive digital equity plans in each State.
• Spurring Targeted Action through Competitive Grants: Creates a five-year $250 million per year competitive grant program to support digital inclusion projects undertaken by individual groups, coalitions, and/or communities of interest.
• Supporting Research and Evidence-Based Policymaking: Tasks NTIA with evaluating digital equity projects and providing policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels with detailed information about which projects are most effective.

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.
• Education: 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.

###