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Get Involved in State Planning
The Digital Equity Act presents an unprecedented opportunity to ensure digital equity and inclusion for everyone in the U.S. This page provides guidance for adult education programs, immigrant-serving organizations, and other community organizations on how to get involved in their state’s Digital Equity Plan planning and implementation.
Where are we now?
(Timeline from NTIA’s Digital Equity Act Programs Overview fact sheet.)
On March 29, 2024, NTIA released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State Capacity Grant. This grant allocates about $760 million to all 50 states (including DC and Puerto Rico) for the implementation of their NTIA-approved State Digital Equity Plans over the next five years. States must submit their applications by May 28, 2024, and 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 third and final Digital Equity Act program, the Competitive Grant. The Competitive Grant will be open to eligible state and non-state entities implementing digital inclusion activities.
How do I get involved?
As part of implementing their Digital Equity Plans, states may choose to subgrant funds out to community organizations for digital inclusion activities (e.g., digital skills training). Community organizations can prepare for possible subgrants by:
- Scanning your state’s NTIA-approved Digital Equity Plan for 1) subgrant opportunities, 2) how the needs of individuals with a language barrier will be addressed, and 3) where adult education and immigrant inclusion systems and organizations have been identified as collaborators and assets;
- Connecting to the office leading Digital Equity Act in your state and confirming if they plan to subgrant funds; and
- Ensuring your organization has a Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, which is required for receiving federal funding.
In our latest report, Adult Learners and Immigrants in State Digital Equity Plans, we examine the drafts of ten State Digital Equity Plans with a focus on the meaningful inclusion of adult education and immigrant inclusion.
The overwhelming majority of adult learners and immigrants are members of multiple covered populations prioritized under the Digital Equity Act of 2021. As trusted and experienced providers, both adult education programs and immigrant serving organizations are critical to closing the digital divide for individuals with a language barrier.
Community organizations should also consider applying for the third and final Digital Equity Act program, the Competitive Grant. The Competitive Grant will be open to eligible state and non-state entities implementing digital inclusion activities for covered populations. NTIA must release the NOFO for the Competitive Grant within 30 days of the first state receiving its State Capacity Grant award. Visit the Digital Equity Champions for All Learners page to learn more about the Competitive Grant.
- Digital Equity Act Tracker: A list of Digital Equity Act administering entities, plans, and stakeholder engagement activities by state.
- Digital Equity Champions for All Learners: A collaborative effort between several national adult education organizations to prepare adult education leaders at the state, local, and institution levels for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant.
- NEW! Adult Learners and Immigrants in State Digital Equity Plans: A review of ten draft State Digital Equity Plans, with a focus on the meaningful inclusion of adult education and immigrant inclusion.
- Digital Equity Now: A Call to Action for Adult Education Leadership: A blog post summarizing the Digital Equity Act and why the adult education field needs to get involved.
- Getting Started with Digital Equity Act Advocacy for Community-Based Organizations: A fillable, customizable worksheet to help community organizations connect five core areas of the Digital Equity Act to their work so that they can better advocate for themselves to their state administering entities and leaders.
- Adult Education in Focus: An Annotated State Digital Equity Plan Template: Detailed guidance on 1) why adult learners need to be included in State Digital Equity Plans, and 2) how adult education can support the development and implementation of State Digital Equity Plans, section by section.
- Digital Equity for All: Adult Education and State Digital Equity Planning: A customizable slide deck for adult education leaders and advocates who are meeting with their states’ DEA administering entities and working groups to discuss why adult education and adult learners should be included in the State Digital Equity Plan development and implementation process.
- Digital Equity for All: Immigrants and Refugees in State Digital Equity Planning: A customizable slide deck for immigrant and refugee serving organizations that are meeting with their states’ DEA administering entities and working groups to discuss why immigrants and refugees should be included in the State Digital Equity Plan development and implementation process.
- Read, Write, Advocate! State Digital Equity Plans Now Out for Public Comment: A blog post detailing the public comment process for State Digital Equity Plans and why adult education leaders, advocates, and learners need to act now. Includes a checklist to help the field identify what to look for as they read their State Digital Equity Plan.