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What is the Digital Equity Act?
The Digital Equity Act (DEA), part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in late 2021, provides an unprecedented opportunity to secure digital equity and inclusion for everyone in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is responsible for managing DEA funds. DEA funding is divided into three programs:
- State Planning Grant: $60 million (via formula funding) for states to create their Digital Equity Plans over one year
- State Capacity Grant: $1.44 billion (via formula funding) for states to implement their Digital Equity Plans over five years
- Competitive Grant: $1.25 billion (via competitive funding) for eligible entities to implement digital inclusion activities over four years
On March 29, 2024, NTIA released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State Capacity Grant. All fifty states (including DC and Puerto Rico) must submit their applications – including their NTIA-approved State Digital Equity Plans – by May 28, 2024. NTIA anticipates it will make its first award no later than August 28, 2024. Read NTIA’s press release on the State Capacity Grant.
Within 30 days of the first state receiving its State Capacity Grant award, NTIA must also release the NOFO for the Competitive Grant.
(Timeline from NTIA’s Digital Equity Act Programs Overview fact sheet.)
Learn more about the Digital Equity Act below, and visit our DEA News and Updates page to stay up to date. For further resources on digital equity and inclusion and advocacy, see our Digital Equity Resources page.
- Digital Equity Act Programs Overview – Internet for All: A one-pager on the three DEA grants and the funding timeline from NTIA.
- Digital Equity Act Program – Internet for All: The DEA landing page on NTIA’s Internet for All site.
- Internet for All Map: Interactive map with contacts, program statuses, and funding allocations by state.
- Digital Equity Programs – BroadbandUSA: The DEA landing page on NTIA’s BroadbandUSA site, with planning guidance and technical assistance for states. Topics include digital equity and inclusion, aligning DEA and BEAD, local coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
- Digital Equity Act FAQs – BroadbandUSA: The official FAQ document on the DEA. Last updated on June 6, 2022.
- Digital Equity Act Programs Webinar – Internet for All: Recording and slides for the webinar NTIA held on May 18, 2022.
- Full legislative text (in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act)
- Digital Equity Act 101 – World Education: A slide deck digital equity and inclusion advocates can use to spread awareness of DEA and the digital divide.
- Digital Equity Now: A Call to Action for Adult Education Leadership – World Education: A blog post summarizing the Digital Equity Act and why the adult education field needs to get involved.
- Implementing the New Digital Equity Act: What Workforce and Education Advocates Need to Know – National Skills Coalition: A brief on the DEA geared towards advocates in workforce, higher education, and adult education.
- Gearing Up for the Digital Equity Act with Libraries – National Skills Coalition: Recording and slides from a webinar on how libraries can leverage DEA funding.
- Blog posts on Digital Equity Act – National Digital Inclusion Alliance: Key updates on the Digital Equity Act for digital inclusion advocates.