DC’s CTO to drive new US$3.8-million digital equity grant
11 December 2024
by Jonathan Andrews
Washington DC’s Chief Technology Officer, Stephen Miller (pictured), will take charge of a new US$3.8 million grant to improve digital equity across the city.
The funding will enable the US capital to implement its Digital Equity Plan and through it a number of digital equity projects.
“The Digital Equity Capacity Grant represents a transformative opportunity for the residents of DC, enabling [the Office of the Chief Technology Officer] OCTO to make significant strides in closing the digital divide,” said Miller. “This initiative ensures that every DC resident has the chance to fully engage in the digital economy and thrive in the modern age without facing bias or barriers.”
Miller, in an interview with Cities Today in October on the announcement of his appointment as CTO, said that he wanted to close DC’s digital divide, make digital government services faster, fairer, and simpler; and ensure that the district’s network, data, and technology is safe and secure for all DC employees and residents.
“We have an extreme digital divide in our region, where our most impacted residents can’t take advantage of the hottest tech job market in the country, and have a disadvantage when it comes to accessing and understanding the capabilities of a connected world,” he said.
OCTO’s DC State Broadband and Digital Equity Office (SBDEO) will implement projects across the district, with a focus on Wards 5, 7, and 8 where residents have fewer digital equity resources. Over the coming months, OCTO will share additional information about the funding opportunities available to external partners to support the grant’s digital equity efforts.
Components of the Digital Equity Plan include:
- Developing Tech Together partnerships to further digital equity goals – Tech Together is an OCTO led initiative that partners with the DC government, academia, community organisations, and the tech industry designed to help bridge the digital divide in DC.
- Device Distribution – OCTO partners will provide low-cost, or no-cost devices and IT support, to improve digital equity residents who need it most.
- Digital Literacy Training – OCTO partners will provide comprehensive digital literacy training, from basic to advanced, to District residents including programming to improve broadband adoption.
The grant application’s approval was announced by the mayor, Muriel Bowser, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Image: DCgov
