WI Digital Equity Capacity Grant

​Important Digital Equity Capacity Grant Funding Update

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, along with other states, was notified that effective Friday, May 9, 2025, the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grants were unilaterally terminated, by federal executive action. The Digital Equity Capacity Grant was funded as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and appropriated by Congress and includes funding for programs and services to help advance internet adoption and digital skills for Wisconsin residents. The Commission was accepting competitive grant applications when the termination notice was received. The grant program was designed to target digital skills and internet adoption support to low-income households, veterans, people with disabilities, older adults, rural residents and others Wisconsin residents who need additional programs and support to access and make use of the internet. 

Due to the federal termination of the program, the Digital Equity Capacity Grant application was closed on May 13, 2025, and applications submitted to date will not be reviewed or considered for funding at this time. The Commission will notify applicants should funding become available again. 

Governor Evers and the Public Service Commission remain committed to the grant program's objectives. We are working to understand the impacts that termination of this program will have on statewide internet adoption and digital skills. ​

Ove​​​rview

The 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) created the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, as part of the Digital Equity Act (DEA), to support implementation of State Digital Equity Plans.

The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Wisconsin’s Digital Equity Capacity Grant​ (WI DEC) Program on Nove​mber 1, 2024, which will implement goals in the Wisconsin Digital Equity Plan (WI DE Plan) to promote digital equity among members of the ‘Covered Population’ groups and increase capacity to meet the digital needs and provide opportunities to Wisconsinites across the state.

The Commission discussed the WI Digital Equity Capacity Grant program in an open meeting on  December 19, 2024​, and determined application and program details documented in the January 22, 2025 Order. 

The WI DEC Grant Program is organized around two program tracks: Digital Navigators (Track 1), and Digital Opportunity Coalitions (Track 2). Both tracks should serve members of the Covered Populations defined below.

• Track 1: The overall purpose of the Digital Navigator track is to expand current and/or support new digital navigator staff, programs, and projects that serve the covered populations, and increase internet adoption, digital skills and related digital opportunities within local communities.
• Track 2: The overall purpose of the Digital Opportunity Coalitions track is to expand and support current and new local digital opportunity groups that will raise awareness, identify community needs, and increase the network of people, programs, and services that increase digital opportunity.​

Who is Eligible to App​ly

In accordance with NTIA guidelines and Commission Order, the following entity types are eligible to apply for either or both tracks:

• Local governments or any political subdivision within the State,
• A State agency, or instrumentality of a State, including an agency that is responsible for adult education and literacy activities, or for providing public housing.
  
• An Indian Tribe, Native Entity or Tribal Nation.
  
• A foundation, corporation, institution, or association that is a nonprofit entity.
  
• A community anchor institution including a public school, multi-family housing authority, a library, an institution of higher education, a healthcare provider or nonprofit or governmental community support organization.
  
• A local educational agency.
  
• An entity that carries out a workforce development program.
  

Applicants may submit more than one more application. Applicants seeking funding under both program tracks must submit a separate application for each track. Single applications addressing both tracks will not be accepted.​

Target & Covered Populations​

In accordance with the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA​), NTIA's State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and Commission Order, proposed projects for both tracks are required to target, serve or engage, and tailor services and programs to members of one or more of the following Covered Population groups:

• Individuals who live in households with an income of not more than 150 percent of the federal poverty level;
• Incarcerated individuals, including recently incarcerated individuals and excluding individuals in federal correctional institutions;
  
• Veterans;
  
• Individuals with disabilities;
• Individuals with a language barrier;
• Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group;
• Aging individuals (defined as 60 years of age or older)
• Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area

 
In addition to targeting the Covered Populations, applicants are encouraged to target programs and services to Wisconsin residents and communities who need additional programs and support to access and make use of the internet.​

​Wisconsin Digital Equity Capacity Application Instructions

Application Webinar:

• WI Digital Equity Capacity Grant - Information and Overview
• Webinar Recording | Webinar Slides​
  

Resourc​​es for Digital Equity​ Capacity G​​rant Recipients​​

• Draft DEC Gr​ant​ Agreement​
  
  

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