Department: Universal Services
Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director and Chief Information Officer
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by Universal Services for approval to submit an application to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for grant funds not exceeding $12,000,000, with a 10 percent local in-kind match in the amount of $1,200,000, for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.
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Background and Discussion:
In September of 2024, NTIA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. This grant opportunity supports efforts to achieve digital equity, promote digital inclusion activities, and spur greater adoption and meaningful use of broadband among the following service populations:
* Individuals in Households under 150% poverty threshold
* Aging individuals
* Incarcerated individuals
* Veterans
* Individuals with disabilities
* Individuals with a language barrier (English learners, or low literacy)
* Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group
Harris County requests approval to pursue the Digital Equity Competitive Grant administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for Universal Services to fund the Harris County Digital Navigator Program and expand public access labs to increase digital access services among County residents.
Harris County will also use the grant funds to onboard trainers to empower constituents to build out their own community wireless networks with Harris County Public Library serving as the connection to the internet for t...
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