WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded Long Beach City College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, $2,999,978 as part of the Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program.
Long Beach City College is one of two minority-serving colleges receiving grants today, bringing the total amount of funds distributed under the program to $27,198,200 across 12 educational institutions. The grants will be used to deliver Internet access, purchase equipment, and to hire and train information technology personnel.
“Minority-serving institutions are essential hubs that provide digital skills education and workforce development programs for communities across the country,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This Connecting Minority Communities grant will help provide equipment and workshops to students who are experiencing barriers to their education. This will build Long Beach City College’s digital capacity and fuel job creation and economic growth within their community."
Specifically, Long Beach City College will use the grant to support its Student Technology and Resources (STAR) program to help address gaps in Internet access among students.
“In today’s digital world, access to affordable broadband internet is critical to success in school, at work and beyond,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “Our state is committed to bridging the digital divide in disproportionately impacted communities so that all Californians can thrive. I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for this investment in the Long Beach City College’s innovative program to support students with the tools and resources they need to access important educational opportunities.”
Awardees of the program include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) across the United States. More information about the awardees and grants is available on InternetForAll.Gov.
The CMC program is part of President Biden’s Internet for All initiative and specifically directs $268 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for expanding high-speed Internet access and connectivity to eligible colleges and universities.
Internet for All
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA recently launched a series of new high-speed Internet grant programs funded by the law that will build high-speed Internet infrastructure across the country, create more low-cost high-speed Internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Visit getinternet.gov to learn more.
For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet programs as well as quotes from the awardees, please visit InternetforAll.gov.
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Applicant |
Location |
Funding Amount |
Brief Description |
|
Long Beach City College |
Long Beach, CA |
$ 2,999,978
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Long Beach City College (LBCC)'s Student Technology and Resources (STAR) program will address equity gaps created by historically marginalized students' lack of access to internet broadband and technology. The main goals of the program are to increase persistence of students receiving technology (e.g., laptops/hotspots) and increase enrollment in LBCC's non-credit courses offered at two partner locations within the City of Long Beach (Centro CHA and the North Long Beach Center for Higher Education). Achieving these goals will support students who are experiencing barriers to their education and leverage community partners to expand the scope and scale of support to non-traditional students.
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