NTIA Plans December Relaunch of $1.25B Digital Equity Grant Program

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) plans to issue a new Notice of Funding Opportunity in December 2026 for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. The relaunch would reopen a program backed by $1.25 billion in congressionally appropriated funding and previously involving more than 700 applicants. The new notice’s eligibility rules, application requirements, deadlines, and award timetable have not yet been provided, so prospective applicants should treat the December announcement as a near-term planning signal rather than a published solicitation.

The Digital Equity Act was enacted as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to complement federal broadband infrastructure investment by addressing barriers to broadband adoption and use. Its grant programs support efforts such as digital literacy training, access to devices, technical assistance, workforce development, and broadband affordability. The source reports that President Trump announced an intention to terminate the programs in May 2025, creating uncertainty for applicants and states. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, has now urged NTIA to implement the programs and preserve the work completed by earlier applicants.

For grant seekers and the contractors that may serve them, the December notice could lead to a substantial funding opportunity across digital skills, device access, and related broadband-support services. However, the funding is grant funding—not a stated contract award—and the available information identifies no specific procurement, vendor, or solicitation. Companies should monitor the forthcoming NOFO and consider how their services could support eligible applicants or grant-funded projects, while avoiding assumptions about award mechanisms or requirements before NTIA publishes the terms.

Blunt Rochester’s letter also highlights a distinct implementation concern in Delaware. NTIA awarded the state approximately $4.8 million through a State Digital Equity Capacity Grant for initiatives supporting digital literacy, workforce development, broadband affordability, and device access. According to the source, Delaware has had no clear path to access those funds or implement its approved plan since the May 2025 termination. The senator said the state is working toward universal high-speed broadband access and argued that connectivity infrastructure must be paired with adoption support. Organizations involved in the plan should account for the unresolved status when planning staffing, delivery schedules, and related services.

• NTIA intends to publish a new Competitive Grant Program NOFO in December 2026; detailed terms and deadlines remain unavailable.
• The program has $1.25 billion in congressionally appropriated funding, creating a significant grant opportunity rather than a confirmed contract award.
• More than 700 prior applicants may have existing application work to adapt, though the new NOFO will determine whether and how prior materials can be reused.
• Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester urged NTIA to preserve applicants’ work, minimize administrative burdens and delays, and make the funds available quickly.
• The Digital Equity Act, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was designed to complement broadband infrastructure investments by addressing adoption and use barriers.
• Potentially supported activities include digital literacy, device access, technical assistance, workforce development, and broadband affordability.
• Delaware received an approximately $4.8 million State Digital Equity Capacity Grant for initiatives in those areas, but the source says implementation and access to funds lack a clear path.
• Grant applicants and service providers should monitor NTIA announcements and prepare for potential downstream work without treating the funding as a vendor-specific procurement.
• Organizations supporting Delaware’s approved plan should factor in uncertainty around timing and implementation before committing resources or delivery schedules.