Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program

1. Competitive Grant Program

Proposed programs must support at least one of the following activities:

1. Develop and implement digital inclusion activities that benefit one or more of the Covered Populations; 
   
2. Facilitate the adoption of broadband by the Covered Populations in order to provide educational and employment opportunities;  
   
3. Implement training programs for the Covered Populations that cover basic, advanced, and applied skills;  
   
4. Implement workforce development programs;  
   
5. Make available equipment, instrumentation, networking capability, hardware and software, or digital network technology for broadband services to Covered Populations at low or no cost;  
   
6. Construct, upgrade, expand, or operate new or existing public access computing centers for Covered Populations through community anchor institutions (CAIs); 
   
7. Any other project and/or activity the Assistant Secretary finds to be consistent with the purposes for which the Program is established. 

Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program Goals:

1. Economic stability, including workforce development and employment opportunities;  
   
2. Access to quality education;  
   
3. Access to healthcare;  
   
4. Social and civic engagement; and  
   
5. Community access to the benefits of Internet technology. 

1. A political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of a State, including an agency of a State that is responsible for administering or supervising adult education and literacy activities, or for providing public housing, in the State.
2. An Indian Tribe, an Alaska Native entity, or a Native Hawaiian organization (“Native Entity”).
3. A foundation, corporation, institution, or association that is –
4. A not-for-profit entity; and
5. Not a school.
6. A CAI.
7. A local educational agency.
8. An entity that carries out a workforce development program.
9. A partnership between any of the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (6). 

*U.S. Territories are eligible to apply for funding under a separate set-aside established exclusively for U.S. Territories. 

**An entity may submit only one application for Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program funding; however, an entity may participate as a member of more than one partnership so long as it is not the Authorized Representative for more than one partnership.  

Native Entities Set-Aside: five (5) percent of available funds ($37,500,000) 
U.S. Territories Set-Aside: one (1) percent of available funds ($7,500,000); and awards under this set-aside will not exceed $2,500,000 as required by statute.  
Cost-Share: The Assistant Secretary may grant a cost-share waiver if an applicant petitions for a waiver and demonstrates financial need. Applications that propose matching funds in excess of 10% will be given additional consideration over those that meet only the minimum requirement. U.S. Territories may not be subject to the Federal cost-share/matching requirement depending upon the size of those awards. 
NTIA anticipates it will issue 150 - 200 grant awards under this NOFO. Grantees may not use more than ten (10) percent of the grant amount to measure and evaluate the activities supported with the grant amounts. 
The Assistant Secretary encourages the development of broad partnerships to maximize the reach of the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program funding. 

FRA Selection Preferences:

1. The proposed R&E funding is less than the maximum funding limit for the applicable Year(s) of Service;  
   
2. The application includes funding more than one source, such as state, local, regional governmental, and/or private sources, demonstrating broad participation by affected stakeholders;  
   
3. The applicant has a funding plan that demonstrates the Service will be financially sustainable beyond the grant period of performance;  
   
4. The proposed Services are on Route(s) selected under the Corridor Identification and Development Program and operated by Amtrak; and 
   
5. The start of the Revenue Service is likely to occur within one year of award selection.  

Covered Populations: 
(1) individuals who live in Covered Households (defined as households with income from the most recently completed year of not more than 150% of the poverty level), (2) aging individuals, (3) incarcerated individuals, other than individuals who are incarcerated in a Federal correctional facility, (4) veterans, (5) individuals with disabilities; (6) individuals with a language barrier, including English learners and those with low levels of literacy, (7) individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group, (8) individuals who primarily reside in a rural area. 

Name/Inquiry Type: Angela Thi Bennett – Direct Programmatic Inquires 
Email/Phone: digitalequity@ntia.gov; and (202) 482-2048 
Name/Inquiry Type: Darren Olson – Direct Grant Management Inquires 
Email/Phone: darren.olson@nist.gov; and (720) 693-0465 
Name/Inquiry Type: Charles Meisch – Direct Media Inquires 
Email/Phone: press@ntia.doc.gov; and (202) 482-7002