Digital Equity in Indiana
Connecting the Unconnected
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance defines digital equity as a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information, technology, and capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy.
The Digital Equity Act is a federal act that provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. These three programs are overseen by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The first is the State Digital Equity Planning grant that is a $60 million grant program for states, territories, and tribal governments to develop digital equity plans.
The second is the Digital Equity Capacity Building Grant Program that is $1.44 billion grant program for states, territories, and tribal governments to build their Digital Equity plans.
The last is the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program that is $1.25 billion grant program to fund annual grant programs for five years to implement digital equity projects. Institutions can apply to directly through the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The Digital Equity Act of 2021 provides $2.75 billion
to further advance federal goals relating to digital equity and digital inclusion.
Indiana was awarded $842K in 2022
as part of the Digital Equity Planning Grant to fund the creation of the state’s first digital equity plan.
IBO is applying for the Digital Equity Capacity Grant
which will be used to put our plan in practice in 2024.
Indiana’s Digital Equity Plan is Posted
Indiana’s draft Digital Equity Plan is a five-year plan that will serve as the first-ever statewide digital equity plan. It is available in English and Spanish. The Digital Equity Plan will be posted online for a 30-day public comment period.
Please submit all comments to IBOPublicComment@iot.in.gov.