By: Samantha Claggett 

On July 24th NTIA launched our Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity. A wide variety of applicants will apply for part of nearly $1 billion to fund digital equity efforts in their communities. The application window will be open for 60 days and close on September 23, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. Complete, territory-wide applications from the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands must be received no later than 11:50 PM ET on October 22, 2024. As applicants work on their applications, it is critical to keep in mind the importance of sustainable project planning and meaningful change.

Measurable Impact and Meaningful Change

Meaningful change can create a lasting, measurable impact that resonates for years to come.  

Successful Digital Equity Projects should be designed with both the present and future in mind, ensuring that the benefits extend well beyond the initial grant period. These projects must focus on Covered Populations – those most impacted by the digital divide. By addressing the needs of those who are often left behind, we create stronger, more connected communities where everyone has the opportunity to participate and succeed.

Bridging the Digital Divide with Long-Term Solutions

Imagine the digital divide as a vast canyon, with the digital economy thriving on one side and marginalized or underserved populations on the other. Crossing this canyon isn't simply a matter of desire or effort; there are barriers like the expense of high-speed Internet service, inadequate digital literacy training, or restrictive policies that prevent many from making the journey. While there are some who may find a way across this gap, applications for this program should focus on those who cannot.

Effective projects should address the root causes of these barriers with sustainable, long-lasting solutions. Take these two hypothetical proposals for example:

• A short-term project may suggest subsidizing Internet access for underserved community members who otherwise cannot afford it. This may solve an immediate need to get people online, but once funding runs out, the community must explore new opportunities.  
• A long-term project, on the other hand, might propose a device distribution initiative coupled with digital skills programs tailored to the specific needs of the community. By emphasizing a targeted approach that empowers individuals with lifelong skills they need to fully participate in the digital economy, this approach helps prevent communities from falling back into digital exclusion by promoting long-term resilience and opportunity. This long-term project offers sustainable, holistic solutions that build capacity within the community, compared to the short-term project, which provides only a temporary fix without addressing underlying issues.

Regardless of applicant size, capacity, or experience, it is critical to include measures that address systemic issues Covered Populations face when trying to access the digital world. This may look different for each Covered Population, especially for those who identify with more than one Covered Population.

Applications should be forward-looking while addressing the needs of Covered Populations and communities now. This may mean working with Covered Population community stakeholders, whether through partnership applications or other forms of collaboration to ensure buy-in for long-lasting impact.  

A Once-in-a-Generation Investment

This is our generation’s big moment to close the digital divide and equip those most impacted by it with the tools they need to thrive in the modern digital economy.  

Strong applications will be built on sustainable, long-term solutions that address the unique needs and intersections of Covered Populations, while also fostering inclusion and belonging.

This blog kicks off our three-part “Stronger Together” Digital Equity blog series, which prepares potential applicants to apply to the Digital Equity Competitive Program. Stay tuned for our next blog, which will focus on the importance of measurable objectives in Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program applications. Continue to visit NTIA.Gov and our Get Ready Page for additional details.

Additional Resources:

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative, there are a variety of resources you can use to create data-driven applications.

• NTIA InternetforAll Digital Equity Landing Page
• Digital Equity Act Population Viewer
• Your State’s Plan Digital Equity Plan

If those resources do not provide the information you need, you can reach out to NTIA at DigitalEquity.