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IIJA Digital Opportunity Program
Authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Digital Equity Act (DEA) of 2021 will fund projects that ensure Texas residents and communities have the technology and training needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. The BDO will develop programs that support the advancement of measurable objectives set forth by the NTIA. These objectives include:
- the availability and affordability of access to broadband technology;
- online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services;
- digital literacy;
- awareness of online privacy and cybersecurity; and
- the availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices.
The BDO developed the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (PDF, 32M) through various engagement opportunities. The TDOP was accepted by National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on March 28, 2024.
All program information, planning documents and deadlines will be available here. Check back often.
Public Engagement
Ongoing
With the allotted State Digital Equity Planning Grant (SDEPG) funds, the BDO conducted robust and comprehensive public engagement to ensure all Texan voices were incorporated into the first draft of the TDOP.
Read more about public engagement.
Led by a strong focus on unserved and underserved populations across the state, the BDO administered individual and organizational surveys to understand barriers to access, conducted a statewide listening tour to engage both citizens and stakeholders, and convened statewide working groups and industry-focused task forces. The feedback and data gathered through these engagement efforts played an instrumental role in shaping the TDOP.
The BDO remains committed to keeping stakeholders informed by participating in speaking engagements and conferences as well as facilitating meetings and monthly industry and local government roundtables throughout the planning and implementation process.
Learn more about the BDO’s ongoing outreach and engagement.
Planning
FEB. 28, 2024
The BDO implemented additional efforts to inform the TDOP.
- We partnered with Texas Workforce Commission and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to understand the broadband workforce and digital opportunity landscape across Texas. See Appendix K of the TDOP;
- The Digital Opportunity Hub was developed to visualize and understand the geographic and demographic state of digital opportunity across Texas;
- Technical assistance webinars were hosted to prepare communities for funding programs.
Texas Digital Opportunity Plan
ACCEPTED
MARCH 28, 2024
The TDOP sets the vision and goals for digital opportunity in the state, assesses the current state of access and barriers to digital opportunities, outlines how we will collaborate with stakeholders to address challenges, and describes the strategies and actions we will take to realize our vision and goals.
The BDO published and promoted a public draft of the TDOP. We encouraged all Texans to provide feedback on the plan and received more than 300 comments on the TDOP draft. Following public comments and related revisions, the BDO submitted the TDOP to NTIA on Feb. 28, 2024. NTIA accepted the TDOP on March 28, 2024.
Download the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (PDF, 32M). Note this is an 800 page document.
TEXAS DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY HUB
LAUNCHED
APRIL 29, 2024
The Texas Digital Opportunity Hub provides an updated and user-friendly version of the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan. It is a portal for communities, practitioners, grant-seekers and decision-makers to find and use digital opportunity data for various Texas geographies and populations. The hub offers a searchable and interactive resource to find digital opportunity services, programs and leadership across the state.
AVAILABLE FUNDING
NTIA released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program (SDECGP) on March 29, 2024.
This will guide the office in designing a competitive grant program for entities working to advance digital literacy, device access, affordability, cybersecurity awareness and other digital opportunity initiatives in Texas.
Texas was allocated $55.6 million dollars to implement the TDOP. The BDO is working on completing the application for this grant program. The application deadline is May 28, 2024.
We are developing guidelines for the state’s digital opportunity grant program. The BDO encourages organizations who may be interested in applying to read the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan.
Need assistance?
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