Digital Equity Act

As part of the federal the Digital Equity (DE) Act , the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) received $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs to promote digital inclusion and equity to ensure that all individuals and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to benefit from our digital economy.

These programs promote the meaningful adoption and use of broadband services to low-income households, aging populations, incarcerated individuals, veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals with a language barrier, racial and ethnic minorities, and rural residents.

• State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program: $60 million formula grant program for states and territories to develop digital equity plans.
• State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program: $1.44 billion formula grant program for states and territories to implement digital equity projects and support the implementation of digital equity plans.
• • The NTIA will deploy funds under this program in three separate tranches.
  • The NTIA has released the NOFO for the first tranche .
  • Pennsylvania is eligible to receive over $25 million through this first tranche.
  • The PBDA must submit the application for the first tranche of the Capacity Grant Program to the NTIA by 11:59 PM on May 28, 2024.
  • Period of performance is 5 years from the date of awarded funds.
• Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program: $1.25 billion discretionary grant program to implement digital equity projects.

Pennsylvania’s Statewide Broadband Plan was adopted in December 2022 to help outline challenges and opportunities for universal broadband access in the Commonwealth. The plan is available in other languages. Additionally, a Statewide Digital Equity Plan was adopted in January 2024.  Translated versions of the executive summary as well as the supporting appendices are available.