The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society takes a look at Minnesota’s Digital Equity Capacity Funds…
The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development (OBD) received over $12 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to implement its Digital Opportunity Plan using Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funds. Through these funds, OBD aims to connect Minnesotans to digital equity information, resources, and––most importantly––each other. Broadly, these funds will be used to:
- Pilot a Digital Opportunity Leaders Network to combine “local energy, regional expertise, and statewide continuity”;
- Create a directory of Digital Opportunity resources; and
- Explore potential models for a program similar to the Affordable Connectivity Program, a statewide technology helpline, and a state-managed system to loan large-screen devices.
Digital Connection Committees (DCCs) are the heart of Minnesota’s digital opportunity planning process. Devised by OBD specifically for digital opportunity planning, DCCs are self-selected workgroups formed on a voluntary basis by a variety of entities, including political subdivisions, tribes, non-profits, anchor institutions, faith-based organizations, Minnesota-based businesses, and more–or any combination of these. DCCs gathered digital inclusion data and submitted the data to OBD. OBD provided targeted financial support for DCCs primarily through Assessing Digital Inclusion Mini-Grants. With inclusion in mind, OBD chose to make these grants non-competitive, awarding funds based on each individual application’s completeness, timeliness, and adherence to the scope of the intended grant work.
They go on to outline how OBD plans to achieve its connectivity goals and set Minnesota up for a future of digital opportunity.