WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Guam received planning grants for deploying high-speed Internet service networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative. Guam is receiving $1.4 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden, to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the territory.
“Affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service is not a luxury – it's a necessity,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “As part of President Biden’s investing in America agenda, our Internet for All initiative will ensure everyone in Guam has access to the economic and social opportunities available online. Thank you to Governor Leon Guerrero for her dedication to closing the digital divide.”
"This is welcome news and the first step in accessing millions in federal funding to help bridge the digital divide in our community," said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. "With this funding, we will create new opportunities to expand our people's access to high-speed Internet and computer resources. Additionally, Guam's economic future will be based on mastering digital technology and our administration is in full support of programs that increase digital literacy and IT job training."
All 50 U.S. states and six territories applied for planning grant funding for the Internet for All initiative's Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and the Digital Equity Act program. To date, NTIA has awarded more than $308 million in planning grants to states and territories.
About Guam’s Planning Grants
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
The BEAD Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs.
Guam will receive $1,250,000 to fund various activities including:
- Increasing capacity of a broadband office that oversees broadband programs and broadband deployment;
- Supporting the development of a Five-Year Action Plan to close the broadband availability gap.
- Research and data collection to identify unserved and underserved locations as well as catalogue broadband adoption, affordability, equity, and access to better understand barriers to adoption;
- Publications, outreach, and communications support;
- Coordination with local communities in order to better understand barriers to adoption.
Digital Equity
The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. The first part of NTIA’s execution of the Digital Equity Act is to fund digital equity planning efforts.
Guam will receive $150,000 to fund various activities to support closing the digital equity gap including:
- Developing a robust Territory Digital Equity Plan that will benefit principally unserved and underserved populations in Guam;
- Conducting data collection and analysis, digital inclusion asset mapping and stakeholder engagement;
- Staff recruitment and development.
Internet for All
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. In 2022, NTIA 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 GetiInternet.gov to learn more.
For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet service programs, please visit InternetforAll.gov.