Introduction​

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The digital divide disproportionately impacts covered populations and locations lacking high-speed internet. Simultaneously, organizations that serve covered populations often have limited resources and capacity. The lack of broadband infrastructure connected to or within community spaces to facilitate digital inclusion activities, such as telehealth appointments, contributes to the digital divide.

Target populations most impacted by the digital divide

Projects must provide these programs and services primarily or exclusively to individuals defined as “covered populations'' by the Digital Equity Act. These include:  

• • Low-income households

  • Older adults (60+)

  • Incarcerated individuals or individuals in reentry

  • Veterans

  • Individuals with disabilities

  • Individuals who are English-language learners or have low literacy

  • Individuals who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups

  • Rural inhabitants

Note: other populations not named in the Digital Equity Act that face substantial barriers to digital equity may also be considered, for example unhoused individuals and individuals in long term recovery from substance use disorder.

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Invest in infrastructure to improve digital access in communities 

Projects will invest in world-class facilities to provide public access to high speed internet through devices for public use and lending programs, addressing the barriers of available and affordable high speed internet service and devices. Facilities in areas with high percentages of people who are not connected or unserved by MCA definitions (<50/10 Mbps), facilities in areas that lack other nearby accessible Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs), and facilities in locations which could connect to existing or planned Middle Mile routes will be prioritized.

• Projects must provide or outline plans in their applications to provide broadband internet access (100/100 Mbps).

• Projects must provide access to devices for use on-site and/or for loaning, and on-site technical support.

• Projects must be open to the public or must exclusively or primarily serve covered populations (above). The facility must be no cost or low cost to access. In the case of the latter, the applicant must provide a justification for how its fees meet the “low-cost” criteria.

• Projects must include plans for ensuring the facility is in full code compliance, including ADA accessibility.

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Maximize resources offered to ensure economic, social and health opportunities available through connectivity services

Projects must offer programming or facilitate activities in the areas of education, work, and health monitoring as defined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in its “Guidance for the Coronavirus Capital Funds Project Fund.” Projects must demonstrate that these programs or facilitated activities can be sustained for a minimum of five years beyond the completion of the project.

• Schools & Hospitals: To be eligible for this funding, schools and hospitals must provide services that enable work, education, and health monitoring above and beyond their traditional functions (CPF Guidance, p. 7).  Schools are eligible if they “provide a comprehensive academic program to their students and adult education in the community at large; health monitoring to their students and the community; and workforce training or career counseling services that provide community members with the knowledge needed to engage in work, including digital literacy training programs,” (CPF Guidance, p. 6).  Hospitals must similarly provide community services in the areas of work, education, and health monitoring that extend beyond their patient population.

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