NTIA to host broadband grant program public virtual listening sessions
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will be hosting a series of public virtual listening sessions, from December 15, 2021, to February 3, 2022, regarding the new broadband deployment grants that are being made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The announcement is posted here: https://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-notice/2021/broadband-grant-programs-public-virtual-listening-sessions
Registration information will be online at broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/events/latest-events.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides grants that will be available to school districts, nonprofits, and other entities for purposes of digital equity and planning, as well as broadband deployment. Further, the law cites schools among entities designated as eligible community anchor institutions. NTIA will be administering these grant programs and is soliciting stakeholder input to help inform program development and implementation.
A fact sheet from NTIA about the five new broadband grant programs authorized and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is available here: https://www.commerce.gov/news/fact-sheets/2021/11/fact-sheet-department-commerces-use-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal-funding
These five programs are the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program ($42.45 billion), the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program ($1 billion for FY2022-2026), the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program and State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program ($1.5 billion), and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program ($250 million annually over the next five fiscal years). Additionally, $2 billion is available for the Tribal Connectivity Program.
A summary of the broadband components within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is available (https://www.govtech.com/network/breaking-down-broadband-funding-in-the-infrastructure-bill). A more explanatory summary on “NTIA’s Role in Implementing the Broadband Provisions of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” is posted here: https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/news/latest-news/ntias-role-implementing-broadband-provisions-2021-infrastructure-investment-and