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More than $6.3 million has been awarded to Idaho for the implementation of the state’s plan to address digital inequity.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

The first round of funding for the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program is reaching states and territories, signified by a recent award of over $6.3 million to Idaho.

The funding, announced earlier this month, is part of $800 million in the program slated for states, territories, and tribes in the first round of funding.

“Congratulations to the team in Idaho,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, in comments included with the NTIA’s Oct. 14 announcement. “We look forward to working with you to ensure everyone in the state can take advantage of an Internet connection – whether it’s for work, education, health care, or any other essential service.”

According to the NTIA’s release, Idaho will use the funding to support digital skills training, device distributions, and to support device loaning programs at local libraries.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson said the money represents the first time Idaho will be able to put their digital equity plan into action.

“For the first time, every state in the nation has a digital equity plan in place to promote widespread adoption of high-speed Internet services,” he said.

The Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program was one of three Digital Equity Act grant programs created in 2021 by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Last month, Idaho’s initial Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) proposal was approved by the NTIA with North Dakota and American Samoa.

As a result of the approval, officials in Idaho will now be able to request access to more than $583 million that has been allocated for the state in the BEAD program.

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