U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a new guidebook Monday that highlights support for expanding high-speed broadband internet service to public housing authorities, multifamily owners and operators, and Native American tribal communities in urban and rural areas.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The guidebook outlines the funding program mechanics and how these regions can ensure they receive funding to build high-speed internet service.
“Online participation is an essential resource in today’s society,” HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring that every home has access to high-speed Internet through initiatives such as HUD’s ConnectHome and the bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Affordable Connectivity Program. We are very grateful to the NTIA for their support in developing this useful resource and we look forward to continued partnership between our agencies.
Building broadband Internet infrastructure falls under HUD’s directive to create more equitable access to the Internet.
“To meet the urgent need to connect everyone in America to affordable and reliable high-speed Internet service, the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress have committed historic levels of funding for high-speed Internet service through the $65 billion Internet for All initiative.” funding,” HUD said in its announcement of the guidebook.
Who oversees the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) and Digital Equity Act programs? US Department of Commerce‘S National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). BEAD will provide $42.45 billion to connect “unserved and underserved” communities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Digital Equity Act programs will provide an additional $2.75 billion to provide devices and digital skills training to urban and rural communities across the country, to allow more communities to access the Internet, an important part of Americans’ daily lives .
