Indiana has received a $15 million grant to better bridge the digital divide in rural areas of the state.
The funding comes from the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program created in 2021, and according to Steve Cox, the chief broadband officer at the Indiana Broadband Office, the money will primarily go to assisting people in accessing the internet.
“The digital equity program is basically set up for folks who either can't afford to utilize the internet because they can't afford a device, they can't afford a subscription or service, or those type of issues,” he said.
Read more about the state's Digital Equity Plan
Where funding such as the previously awarded $868 million from the BEAD program are going towards building infrastructure for digital access, this smaller grant focuses on helping Hoosiers attain the skills, knowledge and resources to get the most out of the internet.
The funds will be made available to local units of government and not-for-profit agencies to provide subsidies for affordability programs and internet subscriptions, developing classes to teach digital literacy, and more.
“Those entities will have five years to be able to develop their program, utilizing that funding, build whatever program it is that they've applied to build and then execute that,” Cox said.
The Indiana Broadband Office has nine months to develop the granting program, accept applications, and award the funds.
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