If your organization’s mission connects to the digital world, you’ll want to prepare for the infusion of roughly $1.5 billion in federal digital equity funding. External LinkNew videos explain the guidelines states are using to create their digital equity plans, which in turn shape how states spend their digital equity funding.
In 2022, the Federal Reserve System, in partnership with the External LinkNational Digital Inclusion Alliance, hosted workshops for state policymakers to help them make the best use of billions of dollars in federal funding to ensure everyone has affordable home broadband, along with the skills and devices to use it.
A recording of the workshop at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in November 2022, External Linkis now available to view. Videos cover the many requirements of the Federal government's Digital Equity Planning grant, a prerequisite for states and territories to access digital equity funding. Video topics include:
- Digital Equity Act overview
- Digital inclusion essentials
- Outreach tools, strategies and local resources
- Meeting plan requirements while making it your own
- Digital equity asset inventory and mapping
- Inspiration for this work
- Developing an outline and vision for your digital equity vision
- Identifying barriers conducting a needs assessment
- Developing measurable objectives
- Implementation strategies and aligning the Digital Equity (DE) and Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) plans
- Kansas City Fed's digital equity work
States will likely focus much of the funding on workforce development and digital skills training programs, telehealth and other digital-related services, and affordable computer/device programs. The more community organizations understand how states are approaching the digital equity plan creation, the more they can prepare to be partners.