Notice2023-07133
Digital Equity RFC Listening Sessions
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 6, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Telecommunications and Information Administration
Abstract
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will convene four virtual listening sessions on the Digital Equity Act Request for Comment. The listening sessions are designed to collect stakeholder input to help inform the development and administration of the State Digital Equity Capacity and State Digital Equity Competitive grant programs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20502-20503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07133]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Digital Equity RFC Listening Sessions
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open meetings.
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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) will convene four virtual listening sessions on the Digital
Equity Act Request for Comment. The listening sessions are designed to
collect stakeholder input to help inform the development and
administration of the State Digital Equity Capacity and State Digital
Equity Competitive grant programs.
DATES: The listening sessions will be held on April 10, 17, 24, and 29,
2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
ADDRESSES: The session will be held virtually, with online slide share
and dial-in information to be posted at <a href="https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar">https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct questions regarding this
Notice to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#03676a646a77626f6672766a777a436d776a622d646c75"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f09499979984919c958185998489b09e849991de979f86">[email protected]</span></a>, indicating ``DE RFC Listening
Session'' in the subject line, or if by mail, addressed to National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
202-482-3806. Please direct media inquiries to Virginia Bring, (202)
594-6254, or NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ed9d9f889e9ead8399848cc38a829b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5c5c7d0c6c6f5dbc1dcd49bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Authority: Recognizing the internet's fundamental
role in today's society and its centrality to our nation's continued
health and prosperity, the Biden-Harris Administration will work to
ensure that every community in America has access to affordable,
reliable, high-speed internet service. On November 15, 2021, President
Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 \1\
into law, also known (and referred to subsequently herein) as the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes a historic investment of
$65 billion to help close the digital divide and ensure that everyone
in America has access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet
service. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), is responsible for distributing more than $48 billion in
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through several different
programs, including the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act of 2021
Program.
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\1\ Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021).
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The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted what many have known for a very
long time: High-speed internet access is not a luxury, but a basic
necessity for all Americans. Since the pandemic, telehealth access and
use has expanded and the workplace is changing as more workers are
choosing to work from home. Passed on a bipartisan basis in both
chambers of Congress, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated
$42.45 billion to create the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment
Program (BEAD), $1 billion to create the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband
Infrastructure Program, $2 billion to help tribal communities expand
high-speed internet access and adoption on tribal lands, and $2.75
billion (through the Digital Equity Act of 2021 (Digital Equity Act),
also passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to advance
federal goals relating to digital equity \2\ and digital inclusion.\3\
These programs administered by NTIA are designed to work in tandem with
other high-speed internet programs, including the Affordable
Connectivity Program, which provides up to $30 per month toward
internet service for qualifying households and up to $75 per month for
households on qualifying Tribal lands. With the passage of the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress took a significant step forward
in achieving the Biden-Harris Administration's goal of ensuring that
all Americans not only have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed
internet service but also the skills and resources needed for full
participation in the society and economy of the United States.
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\2\ Section 60302(10) of the IIJA defines ``digital equity'' as
``the condition in which individuals and communities have the
information technology capacity that is needed for full
participation in the society and economy of the United States.''
\3\ Section 60302(11) of the IIJA Law defines ``digital
inclusion'' as ``(A) . . . the activities that are necessary to
ensure that all individuals in the United States have access to, and
the use of, affordable information and communication technologies,
such as--(i) reliable fixed and wireless broadband internet service;
(ii) internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; and
(iii) applications and online content designed to enable and
encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration; and
(B) includes--(i) obtaining access to digital literacy training;
(ii) the provision of quality technical support; and (iii) obtaining
basic awareness of measures to ensure online privacy and
cybersecurity.''
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To help inform development and administration of the Digital Equity
Act grant programs, NTIA has established multiple avenues for the
public to offer input, including through a Request for Comment,
published March 2nd, 2023, as well as these four public virtual
listening sessions. This Notice is part of NTIA's strategy to engage
with partners, stakeholders, and most importantly, individuals with
lived experiences who faced challenges of having access to and/or the
skills and devices to fully utilize affordable, reliable, high-speed
internet, to help meet the President's goal to close the digital divide
and transform the lives of all Americans. This is America's opportunity
to harness the talents and strengths of all parts of our country and
remove systemic barriers and provide equal access to opportunities and
benefits, so that everyone has a chance to reach their full potential.
But in order to achieve this objective, we need to hear from you. This
Notice provides an opportunity to provide direct responses to NTIA's
Request for Comment via public listening sessions, and to inform how
NTIA designs a program that works to achieve this national and
community driven opportunity for change.
[[Page 20503]]
Time and Date: The listening sessions will be held on April 10, 17,
24, and 29, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
The exact time of the meeting is subject to change. Please refer to
NTIA's website, <a href="https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar">https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar</a>., for the most
current information.
Place: The meeting will be held virtually, with online slide share
and dial-in information to be posted at <a href="https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar">https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar</a>. Please refer to NTIA's website, <a href="https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar">https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar</a>., for the most current information.
Other Information: The meeting is open to the public and the press
on a first-come, first-served basis. The virtual meeting is accessible
to people with disabilities. Sign language interpretation and virtual
real-time captioning will be available. Individuals requiring other
ancillary aids should notify the Department at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9cf8f5fbf5e8fdf0f9ede9f5e8e5dcf2e8f5fdb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1e7a7779776a7f727b6f6b776a675e706a777f30797168">[email protected]</span></a>
at least seven (7) business days prior to the meeting. Access details
for the meeting are subject to change. Please refer to NTIA's website,
<a href="https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar">https://www.internetforall.gov/calendar</a>., for the most current
information.
Josephine Arnold,
Senior Attorney Advisor, National Telecommunications and Information
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-07133 Filed 4-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
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