NTIA fact sheet: Bridging the digital divide

President Biden and Vice President Harris are investing $90 billion to close the digital divide, and NTIA is administering nearly $50 billion across multiple grant programs in support of this goal. Here are highlights of NTIA’s achievements. #pressrelease

September 10, 2024

2 Min Read

The Biden-Harris Administration's Internet for All initiative is delivering on its promise to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service by 2030. Since the President took office, more than 2.4 million previously unserved homes and small businesses have been connected to high-speed Internet service.

President Biden and Vice President Harris are investing $90 billion to close the digital divide, and NTIA is administering nearly $50 billion across multiple grant programs in support of this goal. Below are highlights of NTIA's achievements under the Biden-Harris Administration.

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program ($42.45 billion)

  • Approved 48 Initial Proposals (as of 9/6/24) for how states and territories will connect every unserved location.

  • Made available more than $20 billion in BEAD funding to states and territories, subject to BEAD terms and conditions.

  • Met or exceeded all statutory deadlines to keep program on time and on track.

Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program ($3 billion)

  • Awarded $1.86 billion in awards to 226 Tribal entities —the largest ever investment in high-speed Internet on Tribal Lands.

  • Newly connected or lowered Internet costs for more than 4,500 Tribal homes, with many more to come.

Enabling Middle Mile Infrastructure Program ($1 billion)

  • Awarded $980 million to 36 organizations across 40 states and territories to deploy, lease, or upgrade networks, which increase our nation’s network resilience and lower the cost of connecting homes and small businesses.

  • Began construction on projects in eight (8) states to build or upgrade nearly 1,500 miles of middle mile fiber.

Broadband Infrastructure Program ($288 million)

  • Made high-speed Internet service available to more than 40,000 previously unserved households, nearly 3,000 businesses, and more than 130 community anchor institutions (like schools and libraries) to date through $282.7 million in awards.

  • Constructed or upgraded more than 2,750 miles of fiber.

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program ($268 million)

  • Awarded $262.8 million to 91 Minority-Serving Institutions to expand remote learning opportunities and spur economic development in their surrounding communities.

  • Distributed more than 21,000 devices to students and community members to date.  

Digital Equity Act Programs ($2.75 billion)

  • Awarded planning grants to 56 states and territories totaling more than $53.7 million.

  • Oversaw the creation of Digital Equity plans from all 56 states and territories.

  • Made nearly $1 billion available via the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.

Read the full press release here.

NTIA

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like