Webinar: NTIA’s Connecting Minority Communities, Digital Equity, and Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grant Programs

  • Last Updated: September 25, 2024
  • Published: August 21, 2024

Register to attend the live training webinar, "NTIA’s Connecting Minority Communities, Digital Equity, and Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grant Programs."

Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EDT)

Recording and closed captioning are available. All webinars are free of charge.

  • Speakers:
    • Angela Thi Bennett, Digital Equity Director, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
    • Janice Wilkins, Broadband Program Specialist and Federal Program Office, NTIA
    • Nick Courtney, Pre-Award Team Lead, Tribal Broadband Connectivity and Nation-to-Nation Coordination Division, NTIA
  • Learning outcomes: The NTIA administers six grant programs totaling approximately $50 billion. This webinar will focus on three grant programs with presenters discussing the impact they are having on the communities they are intended to serve and how libraries can support program grantees in closing the digital divide.
    • The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) is a $3 billion competitive grant program that funds broadband infrastructure, planning, and adoption projects on Tribal lands.
    • The Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program is a $268 million competitive grant program that funds Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the purchase of broadband Internet access service and eligible equipment, or to hire and train information technology personnel.
    • The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created three Digital Equity (DE) grant programs totaling $2.75 billion. The State DE Planning and Capacity Programs are two formula grant programs for states, territories, and tribal entities, that allow for planning and implementation to promote digital equity, support digital inclusion, and build capacity relating to the adoption of broadband. The Competitive DE grant program funds projects that promote digital equity, supports digital inclusion, and builds capacity relating to the adoption of broadband.

Registration confirmation information:

Upon registering, a confirmation email from [email protected] will be sent with instructions for joining the webinar. To ensure delivery of that email, configure your junk mail or spam filter(s) to permit messages from that address. GPO staff will also email your access information the day before the webinar. If you do not receive your login information, please email [email protected].

Prior to the webinar:

For those participating via a desktop or laptop computer (preferred method), a WebEx plug-in must be installed (one-time only). Download instructions. Some features will not be available for users participating with a tablet or smartphone. Devices need to have a WebEx app installed from the device’s app store, which may take time. After installation, the app will ask for you to Allow or Deny permissions.