D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) announced on May 9 that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded the District over $100 million in federal funds through the Volume II Initial Proposal under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
“By ensuring District residents, businesses, and institutions have access to affordable, high-speed internet—and supporting them with trainings on digital literacy and workforce development—we can give more people in the District a fair shot, and remain a leader in tech careers, talent, and innovation,” said Bowser. “We are grateful for the support and partnership of the Biden-Harris administration for their focus on digital equity so that together we can break down barriers and close the digital divide.”
OCTO’s DC State Broadband and Digital Equity Office will use the $100.6 million in BEAD funding to increase internet access to residents and all-levels digital literacy training with an eye for workforce development primarily in Wards 5,7, and 8.
“D.C. is a hub for technology and innovation,” said Interim Chief Technology Officer Stephen Miller. “And we want to be able to properly train and connect our residents to opportunities with the leading tech companies that we have here in Washington, D.C.”
