Notice of Funding Opportunity for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program

This Notice of Funding Opportunity ("NOFO") solicits applications for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program ("Capacity Grant Program" or "Program"), the second of three digital equity programs authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, Division F, Title III, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, 1209 (November 15, 2021) ("Infrastructure Act" or "IIJA") also known as the ("Digital Equity Act" or "DE Act"). The Digital Equity Act appropriated $2.75 billion to be awarded by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information ("Assistant Secretary") to promote digital inclusion activities and achieve digital equity.<_o3a_p>

The Digital Equity Act consists of three funding programs:

1. the $60 million State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program;
2. the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program; and
3. the $1.25 billion Competitive Grant Program.

NTIA released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program ("Planning Grant Program") on May 13, 2022, making funds available to States and Territories to develop State Digital Equity Plans ("Digital Equity Plans"). The Capacity Grant Program will provide funds to States and U.S. Territories to implement the State Digital Equity Plans developed pursuant to the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program. The Digital Equity Plans identify the barriers to achieving digital equity faced by certain populations defined by the statute (i.e. "Covered Populations"), and include measurable objectives to promote:

1. the availability and affordability of access to broadband technology;
2. online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services;
3. digital literacy;
4. awareness of online privacy and cybersecurity; and
5. the availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices.<_o3a_p>

In addition, this NOFO establishes a competitive process to make both State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program funds and State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funds available to Native Entities to carry out digital equity and inclusion activities consistent with the Digital Equity Act. These proposed projects must include measurable objectives and evaluation criteria as part of their program design and will likewise address barriers to digital equity and promote the availability and affordability of access to broadband technology, online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services, digital literacy, awareness of online privacy and cybersecurity, and the availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices.<_o3a_p>

Because funding for States and U.S. Territories is based on a statutory allocation formula and funding for Native Entities will be determined through a separate competitive process, this NOFO is divided into sections to help clarify specific requirements applicable to different entities applying for funding. The procedures through which States and U.S. Territories can seek funding are outlined in Section II. Procedures for Native Entities to obtain funding are addressed in Section III. The remaining sections are common to both types of entities.<_o3a_p>

Recognizing that achieving digital equity for all people, including Indigenous peoples of the United States and Territories, is a matter of social and economic justice, this NOFO seeks to enable any entity that is awarded a grant under this Program to better understand, measure, and address systemic barriers to digital equity and, in collaboration with the communities most impacted, co-create the conditions necessary for long-lasting and meaningful change to ensure a sustainable future. Focusing investments on creating these conditions for change will allow entities awarded a grant under this Program to address the causes of socioeconomic disparities and will result in improved outcomes<_o3a_p>