Colleagues, Early next week, Senator Patty Murray (WA) will introduce the Digital Equity Act of 2019. This important legislation seeks to increase access for communities that lack high-speed digital connectivity. The National Coalition for Literacy and several of its members have assisted with development of the legislation to ensure that it makes specific reference to the communities and learners that we serve. Senator Murray's office is actively seeking cosponsors for the bill, and I hope you will support that effort by contacting your Senators to urge them to co-sign and support this bill. I'm attaching information about the bill and a message from Hart Clements in Senator Murray's office for your reference. Feel free to refer your Senator's staff to Ms Clements (mailto:hart_clements@murray.senate.gov) and her colleague Ben Merkel mailto:ben_merkel@murray.senate.gov) if there are questions. Thank you for your active advocacy for this key legislation! Cordially, Deborah Deborah Kennedy Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words President, National Coalition for Literacy office: 202-364-1964 (September-May) office: 603-293-2402 (June-August) http://www.key-words.us http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org   _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________                                                     Cosponsor the Digital Equity Act of 2019 Deadline to cosponsor as an original: April 8th   Senator Murray invites your bosses to cosponsor the Digital Equity Act of 2019, a bill aimed at addressing gaps in broadband internet adoption that affect historically overlooked and underserved populations, including members of a racial or ethnic minority group, individuals with disabilities, rural communities, and low-income households. This bill complements, but does not duplicate, existing federal broadband programs administered by the FCC, USDA and others.   Summary: The bill would establish two grant programs administered by NTIA –   ·         State Capacity Grant Program o   Formula grant program available to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to build out capacity for digital inclusion activities at the state level. Includes a five-percent tribal set aside. o   In order to receive capacity grant funds, States must craft a State Digital Equity Plan which identifies need and sets digital equity-related objectives. Once awarded capacity grant, States can use funds to execute plan and subgrant to organizations within the state for digital inclusion efforts. o   Authorized at $120 million per year for capacity grants and an additional $60 million for state planning grants.   ·         Competitive Grant Program o   A nationally competitive grant program to support digital inclusion initiatives undertaken by individual organizations and/or coalitions. o   Allowable uses include targeted digital inclusion efforts, skills training and other workforce development programs, the construction and operation of public computing centers, and making technology available to covered populations at low or no cost. o   Authorized at $120 million per year.   Current Cosponsors: Sen. King   Endorsed by:   ·         American Library Association ·         Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC ·         Competitive Carriers Association ·         Chief Officers of State Librarians Association ·         Consortium for School Networking ·         National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors ·         Next Century Cities ·         National Congress of American Indians ·         National Coalition for Literacy ·         National Consumer Law Center on behalf of their low-income clients ·         National Digital Inclusion Alliance ·         National Hispanic Media Coalition ·         National League of Cities ·         National Parent Teacher Association ·         Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network ·         New America’s Open Tech Institute ·         Public Knowledge ·         Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition   The bill text is attached, along with a one-pager and section-by-section. If your boss is interested in cosponsoring or if you have any questions, please reach out to Ben Merkel (4-9484, mailto:Ben_Merkel@murray.senate.gov) or Hart Clements (8-6692, mailto:Hart_Clements@murray.senate.gov).