MEMBER ADVISORY
June 3, 2021
National Telecommunications and Information Administration to host webinars on Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is providing information on upcoming webinars being hosted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The NTIA is hosting a series of webinars on June 23 and June 24, 2021, to discuss the $285 million NTIA Grant Program: Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, created by the Consolidated Appropriation Act in December 2020.
The $285 million Connecting Minority Communities Pilot program will provide grant funding to eligible recipients to purchase broadband or eligible equipment, or to hire and train IT personnel.
Eligible entities include Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). A consortium led by HSIs, HBCUs, TCUs, or MSIs that also includes a minority business enterprise or a nonprofit organization in the anchor community are also eligible for this grant program.
Funding is available for Wi-Fi hotspots; modem, routers, or combined modem/routers; laptops, tablets, or similar internet-connected devices; and any other equipment used to provide broadband.
HACU encourages leaders from HSIs to attend the webinars hosted by NTIA to learn more about the program and the grant application process. More information on the June 23 and June 24 webinars are available on the NTIA BroadbandUSA website.
HACU is coordinating with NTIA to host a webinar in July when the Notice of Funding Opportunity is released to provide HACU-members technical assistance on the program application process.
HACU Member Advisories are a service of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)