For Immediate Release
December 8, 2022
Press Contact
NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002, press@ntia.gov
WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that North Dakota received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. North Dakota is receiving $5,516,380 in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden, to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state.
"Closing the digital divide is essential to ensuring that no one in North Dakota is left behind," said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "I appreciate Governor Burgum for his commitment to the Internet for All initiative and bridging the digital divide for all in North Dakota."
All 50 U.S. states and six territories applied for planning grant funding for the Internet for All initiative's Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and the Digital Equity Act program. Grant awards for all 56 eligible entities will be announced on a rolling basis.
About North Dakota’s Planning Grants
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
The BEAD Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs.
North Dakota will receive $5,000,000 to fund various activities including:
- Supporting the state’s Broadband North Dakota project, including a 5-year action plan identifying North Dakota’s Internet access, affordability, equity, and adoption needs;
- Identification of unserved and underserved locations;
- Increasing capacity of broadband office;
- Asset mapping across North Dakota to catalog high-speed Internet adoption, affordability, equity, access and deployment activities;
- Conducting community surveys to better understand barriers to high-speed Internet service adoption.
Digital Equity
The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. The first part of NTIA’s execution of the Digital Equity Act is to fund digital equity planning efforts.
North Dakota will receive $516,380 to fund various activities including:
- Development of a statewide digital equity plan;
- Recruiting and developing staff;
- Engaging community members and stakeholders in plan development.
Internet for All
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA recently launched a series of new high-speed Internet grant programs funded by the law that will build high-speed Internet infrastructure across the country, create more low-cost high-speed Internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Visit AffordableConnectivity.gov to learn more.
For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet service programs, please visit InternetforAll.gov.