WHAT IS THE DIGITAL EQUITY ACT?

Congress passed the Digital Equity Act as part of the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act in order to advance the cause of Digital Equity among the following digitally excluded populations:

• Individuals who live in households who earn less than 150% of the poverty level
• Aging individuals
• Incarcerated individuals, other than individuals who are incarcerated in a Federal correctional facility
• Veterans
• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals with a language barrier
• Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group
• Individuals who reside in a rural area

The Act promotes digital equity by establishing and funding two grant programs that are administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce.

The Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program (DECGP) offers grants to organizations that engage in digital equity and digital inclusion activities while the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program (SDECGP) offers grants to states who submit qualifying State Digital Equity Plans (SDEPs).

To qualify for the SDECGP, a state must select an agency to receive and administer the grant; develop, implement, and oversee the plan; and make subgrants to organizations who engage in activities that support the SDEP or digital inclusion generally.

While a state's administering agency is ultimately responsible for implementing the SDEP, it does so by collaborating with key digital equity stakeholders, such as government agencies and nonprofit organizations, who actually engage in digital equity and digital inclusion activities.