WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a new guidebook for states and organizations to consider when deploying high-speed Internet service projects. The guide will help Public Housing Authorities, Multifamily Owners and Operators, and Tribes understand the mechanics of these two programs and the role they can play in ensuring that funds come to their urban and rural neighborhoods.
All 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico have received planning funding under both programs. The State Broadband Offices (SBO) are currently developing Action Plans for each program and will submit them to the NTIA in the coming months. SBOs must consult a wide range of organizations, including PHAs and other affordable housing entities that work with low-income Americans. Public Housing Authorities, tribes, and Multifamily housing organizations should contact their SBOs.
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunication and Information Administration oversees the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) and the Digital Equity Act programs. BEAD will provide $42.45 billion to help connect unserved and underserved locations across the country, and the Digital Equity programs will provide another $2.75 billion to help communities around the country provide devices, digital skills training, and other activities to help underserved communities fully participate in the digital world.