(iii) the Secretary of Education; 
(iv) the Secretary of Labor; 
(v) the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services; 
(vi) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 
(vii) the Secretary of the Interior; 
(viii) the Federal Communications 
Commission; 
(ix) the Federal Trade Commission; 
(x) the Director of the Institute of 
Museum and Library Services; 
(xi) the Administrator of the Small 
Business Administration; 
(xii) the Federal Cochairman of the 
Appalachian Regional Commission; and 
(xiii) the head of any other agency 
that the Assistant Secretary determines to 
be appropriate; and 
(B) ensure that the Program complements 
and enhances, and does not conflict with, other 
Federal broadband initiatives and programs. 
(b) ADMINISTERING ENTITY.— 
(1) SELECTION; FUNCTION.—The governor (or 
equivalent official) of a State that wishes to be 
awarded a grant under this section shall, from 
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among entities that are eligible under paragraph (2), 
select an administering entity for that State, which 
shall— 
(A) serve as the recipient of, and admin-
istering agent for, any grant awarded to the 
State under this section; 
(B) develop, implement, and oversee the 
State Digital Equity Plan for the State de-
scribed in subsection (c); 
(C) make subgrants to any entity described 
in subsection (c)(1)(D) that is located in the 
State in support of— 
(i) the State Digital Equity Plan for 
the State; and 
(ii) digital inclusion activities in the 
State generally; and 
(D) serve as— 
(i) an advocate for digital equity pol-
icy and digital inclusion activities; and 
(ii) a repository of best practice mate-
rials regarding the policies and activities 
described in clause (i). 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Any of the following 
entities may serve as the administering entity for a 
State for the purposes of this section if the entity 
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has demonstrated a capacity to administer the Pro-
gram on a statewide level: 
(A) The State, a political subdivision, 
agency, or instrumentality of the State, an In-
dian tribe located in the State, an Alaska Na-
tive entity located in the State, or a Native Ha-
waiian organization located in the State. 
(B) A foundation, corporation, institution, 
association, or coalition that is— 
(i) a not-for-profit entity; 
(ii) located in the State; and 
(iii) not a school. 
(C) A community anchor institution, other 
than a school, that is located in the State. 
(D) A local educational agency that is lo-
cated in the State. 
(E) An entity located in the State that car-
ries out a workforce development program. 
(F) An agency of the State that is respon-
sible for administering or supervising adult edu-
cation and literacy activities in the State. 
(G) A public housing authority that is lo-
cated in the State. 
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(H) A partnership between any of the enti-
ties described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(G). 
(c) STATE DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT; CONTENTS.—A State that 
wishes to be awarded a grant under subsection (d) 
shall develop a State Digital Equity Plan for the 
State, which shall include— 
(A) the identification of the barriers to dig-
ital equity faced by covered populations in the 
State; 
(B) measurable objectives for documenting 
and promoting, among each group described in 
subparagraphs (A) through (H) of section 2(8) 
located in that State— 
(i) the availability of, and affordability 
of access to, broadband technology; 
(ii) 
the 
online 
accessibility 
and 
inclusivity of public resources and services; 
(iii) digital literacy; 
(iv) awareness of, and the use of, 
measures to secure the online privacy of, 
and cybersecurity with respect to, an indi-
vidual; and 
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(v) the availability and affordability of 
consumer devices and technical support for 
those devices; 
(C) an assessment of how the objectives 
described in subparagraph (B) will impact and 
interact with the State’s— 
(i) economic and workforce develop-
ment goals, plans, and outcomes; 
(ii) educational outcomes; 
(iii) health outcomes; 
(iv) civic and social engagement; and 
(v) delivery of other essential services; 
(D) in order to achieve the objectives de-
scribed in subparagraph (B), a description of 
how the State plans to collaborate with key 
stakeholders in the State, which may include— 
(i) community anchor institutions; 
(ii) county and municipal govern-
ments; 
(iii) local educational agencies; 
(iv) where applicable, Indian tribes, 
Alaska Native entities, or Native Hawaiian 
organizations; 
(v) nonprofit organizations; 
(vi) organizations that represent— 
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(I) individuals with disabilities, 
including organizations that represent 
children with disabilities; 
(II) aging individuals; 
(III) individuals with language 
barriers, including— 
(aa) individuals who are 
English learners; and 
(bb) individuals who have 
low levels of literacy; 
(IV) veterans; and 
(V) individuals in that State who 
are incarcerated in facilities other 
than Federal correctional facilities; 
(vii) civil rights organizations; 
(viii) entities that carry out workforce 
development programs; 
(ix) agencies of the State that are re-
sponsible for administering or supervising 
adult education and literacy activities in 
the State; 
(x) public housing authorities in the 
State; and 
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(xi) a partnership between any of the 
entities described in clauses (i) through 
(x); and 
(E) a list of organizations with which the 
administering entity for the State collaborated 
in developing and implementing the Plan. 
(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The administering enti-
ty for a State shall make the State Digital Eq-
uity Plan of the State available for public com-
ment for a period of not less than 30 days be-
fore the date on which the State submits an ap-
plication to the Assistant Secretary under sub-
section (d)(2). 
(B) CONSIDERATION
OF
COMMENTS
RE-
CEIVED.—The administering entity for a State 
shall, with respect to an application submitted 
to the Assistant Secretary under subsection 
(d)(2)— 
(i) before submitting the application— 
(I) consider all comments re-
ceived during the comment period de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) with re-
spect to the application (referred to in 
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this subparagraph as the ‘‘comment 
period’’); and 
(II) make any changes to the 
plan that the administering entity de-
termines to be worthwhile; and 
(ii) when submitting the application— 
(I) describe any changes pursued 
by the administering entity in re-
sponse to comments received during 
the comment period; and 
(II) include a written response to 
each comment received during the 
comment period. 
(3) PLANNING GRANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Beginning in the first 
fiscal year that begins after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall, 
in accordance with the requirements of this 
paragraph, award planning grants to States for 
the purpose of developing the State Digital Eq-
uity Plans of those States under this sub-
section. 
(B) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be awarded 
a planning grant under this paragraph, a 
State— 
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(i) shall submit to the Assistant Sec-
retary an application under subparagraph 
(C); and 
(ii) may not have been awarded, at 
any time, a planning grant under this 
paragraph. 
(C) APPLICATION.—A State that wishes to 
be awarded a planning grant under this para-
graph shall, not later than 60 days after the 
date on which the notice of funding availability 
with respect to the grant is released, submit to 
the Assistant Secretary an application, in a for-
mat to be determined by the Assistant Sec-
retary, that contains the following materials: 
(i) A description of the entity selected 
to serve as the administering entity for the 
State, as described in subsection (b). 
(ii) A certification from the State 
that, not later than 1 year after the date 
on which the Assistant Secretary awards 
the planning grant to the State, the ad-
ministering entity for that State shall de-
velop a State Digital Equity Plan under 
this subsection, which— 
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(I) the administering entity shall 
submit to the Assistant Secretary; and 
(II) shall comply with the re-
quirements of this subsection, includ-
ing the requirement under paragraph 
(2)(B). 
(iii) The assurances required under 
subsection (e). 
(D) AWARDS.— 
(i) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—A planning 
grant awarded to an eligible State under 
this paragraph shall be determined accord-
ing to the formula under subsection 
(d)(3)(A)(i). 
(ii) DURATION.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in subclause (II), with respect to 
a planning grant awarded to an eligi-
ble State under this paragraph, the 
State shall expend the grant funds 
during the 1-year period beginning on 
the date on which the State is award-
ed the grant funds. 
(II) EXCEPTION.—The Assistant 
Secretary may grant an extension of 
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not longer than 180 days with respect 
to the requirement under subclause 
(I). 
(iii) CHALLENGE
MECHANISM.—The 
Assistant Secretary shall ensure that any 
eligible State to which a planning grant is 
awarded under this paragraph may appeal 
or otherwise challenge in a timely fashion 
the amount of the grant awarded to the 
State, as determined under clause (i). 
(E) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible State to 
which a planning grant is awarded under this 
paragraph shall, through the administering en-
tity for that State, use the grant funds only for 
the following purposes: 
(i) To develop the State Digital Eq-
uity Plan of the State under this sub-
section. 
(ii)(I) Subject to subclause (II), to 
make subgrants to any of the entities de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(D) to assist in 
the development of the State Digital Eq-
uity Plan of the State under this sub-
section. 
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(II) If the administering entity for a 
State makes a subgrant described in sub-
clause (I), the administering entity shall, 
with respect to the subgrant, provide to the 
State the assurances required under sub-
section (e). 
(d) STATE CAPACITY GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 2 
years after the date on which the Assistant Sec-
retary begins awarding planning grants under sub-
section (c)(3), the Assistant Secretary shall each 
year award grants to eligible States to support— 
(A) the implementation of the State Dig-
ital Equity Plans of those States; and 
(B) digital inclusion activities in those 
States. 
(2) APPLICATION.—A State that wishes to be 
awarded a grant under this subsection shall, not 
later than 60 days after the date on which the notice 
of funding availability with respect to the grant is 
released, submit to the Assistant Secretary an appli-
cation, in a format to be determined by the Assist-
ant Secretary, that contains the following materials: 
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(A) A description of the entity selected to 
serve as the administering entity for the State, 
as described in subsection (b). 
(B) The State Digital Equity Plan of that 
State, as described in subsection (c). 
(C) A certification that the State, acting 
through the administering entity for the State, 
shall— 
(i) implement the State Digital Equity 
Plan of the State; and 
(ii) make grants in a manner that is 
consistent with the aims of the Plan de-
scribed in clause (i). 
(D) The assurances required under sub-
section (e). 
(E) In the case of a State to which the As-
sistant Secretary has previously awarded a 
grant under this subsection, any amendments 
to the State Digital Equity Plan of that State, 
as compared with the State Digital Equity Plan 
of the State previously submitted. 
(3) AWARDS.— 
(A) AMOUNT OF GRANT.— 
(i) FORMULA.—Subject to clauses (ii), 
(iii), and (iv), the Assistant Secretary shall 
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calculate the amount of a grant awarded to 
an eligible State under this subsection in 
accordance with the following criteria, 
using the best available data for all States 
for the fiscal year in which the grant is 
awarded: 
(I) 50 percent of the total grant 
amount shall be based on the popu-
lation of the eligible State in propor-
tion to the total population of all eligi-
ble States. 
(II) 25 percent of the total grant 
amount shall be based on the number 
of individuals in the eligible State who 
are covered populations in proportion 
to the total number of individuals in 
all eligible States who are covered 
populations. 
(III) 25 percent of the total 
grant amount shall be based on the 
comparative lack of availability and 
adoption of broadband in the eligible 
State in proportion to the lack of 
availability and adoption of broadband 
of all eligible States, which shall be 
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determined according to data collected 
from— 
(aa) the annual inquiry of 
the 
Federal 
Communications 
Commission conducted under sec-
tion 706(b) of the Telecommuni-
cations Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 
1302(b)); 
(bb) the American Commu-
nity Survey or, if necessary, 
other data collected by the Bu-
reau of the Census; 
(cc) the Internet and Com-
puter Use Supplement to the 
Current Population Survey of the 
Bureau of the Census; and 
(dd) any other source that 
the Assistant Secretary, after ap-
propriate notice and opportunity 
for public comment, determines 
to be appropriate. 
(ii) MINIMUM
AWARD.—The amount 
of a grant awarded to an eligible State 
under this subsection in a fiscal year shall 
be not less than 0.5 percent of the total 
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amount made available to award grants to 
eligible States for that fiscal year. 
(iii) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.—If, after 
awarding planning grants to States under 
subsection (c)(3) and capacity grants to el-
igible States under this subsection in a fis-
cal year, there are amounts remaining to 
carry out this section, the Assistant Sec-
retary shall distribute those amounts— 
(I) to eligible States to which the 
Assistant 
Secretary 
has 
awarded 
grants under this subsection for that 
fiscal year; and 
(II) in accordance with the for-
mula described in clause (i). 
(iv) DATA UNAVAILABLE.—If, in a fis-
cal year, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico (referred to in this clause as ‘‘Puerto 
Rico’’) is an eligible State and specific data 
for Puerto Rico is unavailable for a factor 
described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of 
clause (i), the Assistant Secretary shall use 
the median data point with respect to that 
factor among all eligible States and assign 
it to Puerto Rico for the purposes of mak-
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ing any calculation under that clause for 
that fiscal year. 
(B) DURATION.—With respect to a grant 
awarded to an eligible State under this sub-
section, the eligible State shall expend the grant 
funds during the 5-year period beginning on the 
date on which the eligible State is awarded the 
grant funds. 
(C) CHALLENGE
MECHANISM.—The As-
sistant Secretary shall ensure that any eligible 
State to which a grant is awarded under this 
subsection may appeal or otherwise challenge in 
a timely fashion the amount of the grant 
awarded to the State, as determined under sub-
paragraph (A). 
(D) USE OF FUNDS.—The administering 
entity for an eligible State to which a grant is 
awarded under this subsection shall use the 
grant amounts for the following purposes: 
(i)(I) Subject to subclause (II), to up-
date or maintain the State Digital Equity 
Plan of the State. 
(II) An administering entity for an el-
igible State to which a grant is awarded 
under this subsection may use not more 
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than 20 percent of the amount of the 
grant for the purpose described in sub-
clause (I). 
(ii) To implement the State Digital 
Equity Plan of the State. 
(iii)(I) Subject to subclause (II), to 
award a grant to any entity that is de-
scribed in section 5(b) and is located in the 
eligible State in order to— 
(aa) assist in the implementation 
of the State Digital Equity Plan of 
the State; 
(bb) pursue digital inclusion ac-
tivities in the State consistent with 
the State Digital Equity Plan of the 
State; and 
(cc) report to the State regarding 
the digital inclusion activities of the 
entity. 
(II) Before an administering entity 
for an eligible State may award a grant 
under subclause (I), the administering en-
tity shall require the entity to which the 
grant is awarded to certify that— 
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(aa) the entity shall carry out the 
activities required under items (aa), 
(bb), and (cc) of that subclause; 
(bb) the receipt of the grant shall 
not result in unjust enrichment of the 
entity; and 
(cc) the entity shall cooperate 
with any evaluation— 
(AA) of any program that 
relates to a grant awarded to the 
entity; and 
(BB) that is carried out by 
or for the administering entity, 
the Assistant Secretary, or an-
other Federal official. 
(iv)(I) Subject to subclause (II), to 
evaluate the efficacy of the efforts funded 
by grants made under clause (iii). 
(II) An administering entity for an el-
igible State to which a grant is awarded 
under this subsection may use not more 
than 5 percent of the amount of the grant 
for a purpose described in subclause (I). 
(v)(I) Subject to subclause (II), for 
the administrative costs incurred in car-
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rying out the activities described in clauses 
(i) through (iv). 
(II) An administering entity for an el-
igible State to which a grant is awarded 
under this subsection may use not more 
than 3 percent of the amount of the grant 
for a purpose described in subclause (I). 
(e) ASSURANCES.—When applying for a grant under 
this section, a State shall include in the application for 
that grant assurances that— 
(1) if an entity described in section 5(b) is 
awarded grant funds under this section (referred to 
in this subsection as a ‘‘covered recipient’’), provide 
that— 
(A) the covered recipient shall use the 
grant funds in accordance with any applicable 
statute, regulation, and application procedure; 
(B) the administering entity for that State 
shall adopt and use proper methods of admin-
istering any grant that the covered recipient is 
awarded, including by— 
(i) enforcing any obligation imposed 
under law on any agency, institution, orga-
nization, or other entity that is responsible 
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for carrying out the program to which the 
grant relates; 
(ii) correcting any deficiency in the 
operation of a program to which the grant 
relates, as identified through an audit or 
another monitoring or evaluation proce-
dure; and 
(iii) adopting written procedures for 
the receipt and resolution of complaints al-
leging a violation of law with respect to a 
program to which the grant relates; and 
(C) the administering entity for that State 
shall cooperate in carrying out any evaluation— 
(i) of any program that relates to a 
grant awarded to the covered recipient; 
and 
(ii) that is carried out by or for the 
Assistant Secretary or another Federal of-
ficial; 
(2) the administering entity for that State 
shall— 
(A) use fiscal control and fund accounting 
procedures that ensure the proper disbursement 
of, and accounting for, any Federal funds that 
the State is awarded under this section; 
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(A) presents to the State a rationale and 
supporting 
information 
that 
clearly 
dem-
onstrates that— 
(i) the grant funds are not contrib-
uting to the development or execution of 
the State Digital Equity Plan of the State, 
as applicable; and 
(ii) the State is not upholding assur-
ances made by the State to the Assistant 
Secretary under subsection (e); and 
(B) determines that the grant is no longer 
necessary to achieve the original purpose for 
which Assistant Secretary awarded the grant. 
(2) REDISTRIBUTION.—If the Assistant Sec-
retary, in a fiscal year, terminates a grant under 
paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall redis-
tribute the unspent grant amounts— 
(A) to eligible States to which the Assist-
ant Secretary has awarded grants under sub-
section (d) for that fiscal year; and 
(B) in accordance with the formula de-
scribed in subsection (d)(3)(A)(i). 
(g) REPORTING AND INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS; 
INTERNET DISCLOSURE.—The Assistant Secretary— 
(1) shall— 
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(A) require any entity to which a grant, in-
cluding a subgrant, is awarded under this sec-
tion to publicly report, for each year during the 
period described in subsection (c)(3)(D)(ii) or 
(d)(3)(B), as applicable, with respect to the 
grant, and in a format specified by the Assist-
ant Secretary, on— 
(i) the use of that grant by the entity; 
(ii) the progress of the entity towards 
fulfilling the objectives for which the grant 
was awarded; and 
(iii) the implementation of the State 
Digital Equity Plan of the State; 
(B) establish appropriate mechanisms to 
ensure that each eligible State to which a grant 
is awarded under this section— 
(i) uses the grant amounts in an ap-
propriate manner; and 
(ii) complies with all terms with re-
spect to the use of the grant amounts; and 
(C) create and maintain a fully searchable 
database, which shall be accessible on the inter-
net at no cost to the public, that contains, at 
a minimum— 
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(i) the application of each State that 
has applied for a grant under this section; 
(ii) the status of each application de-
scribed in clause (i); 
(iii) each report submitted by an enti-
ty under subparagraph (A); 
(iv) a record of public comments made 
regarding the State Digital Equity Plan of 
a State, as well as any written responses to 
or actions taken in as a result of those 
comments; and 
(v) any other information that is suf-
ficient to allow the public to understand 
and monitor grants awarded under this 
section; and 
(2) may establish additional reporting and in-
formation requirements for any recipient of a grant 
under this section. 
(h) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—A grant or 
subgrant awarded under this section shall supplement, not 
supplant, other Federal or State funds that have been 
made available to carry out activities described in this sec-
tion. 
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(i) SET ASIDES.—From amounts made available in 
a fiscal year to carry out the Program, the Assistant Sec-
retary shall reserve— 
(1) not more than 5 percent for the implemen-
tation and administration of the Program, which 
shall include— 
(A) providing technical support and assist-
ance, including ensuring consistency in data re-
porting; 
(B) providing assistance to— 
(i) States, or administering entities 
for States, to prepare the applications of 
those States; and 
(ii) administering entities with respect 
to grants awarded under this section; and 
(C) developing the report required under 
section 6(a); 
(2) not less than 5 percent to award grants to, 
or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 
with, Indian tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Na-
tive Hawaiian organizations to allow those tribes, 
entities, and organizations to carry out the activities 
described in this section; and 
(3) not less than 1 percent to award grants to, 
or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 
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with, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the North-
ern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or pos-
session of the United States that is not a State to 
enable those entities to carry out the activities de-
scribed in this section. 
(j) RULES.—The Assistant Secretary may prescribe 
such rules as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
(k) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated— 
(1) $60,000,000 for the award of grants under 
subsection (c)(3), which shall remain available until 
expended; 
(2) for each of the first 5 fiscal years in which 
amounts are made available to award grants under 
subsection (d), $125,000,000 for the award of those 
grants; and 
(3) such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
this section for each fiscal year after the end of the 
5-fiscal year period described in paragraph (2). 
SEC. 5. DIGITAL EQUITY COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the Assistant Secretary begins 
awarding grants under section 4(d), and not before 
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that date, the Assistant Secretary shall establish in 
the Department of Commerce the Digital Equity 
Competitive Grant Program (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘Program’’), the purpose of which is to 
award grants to support efforts to achieve digital eq-
uity, promote digital inclusion activities, and spur 
greater adoption of broadband among covered popu-
lations. 
(2) CONSULTATION; NO CONFLICT.—In estab-
lishing the Program under paragraph (1), the As-
sistant Secretary— 
(A) may consult a State with respect to— 
(i) the identification of groups de-
scribed in subparagraphs (A) through (H) 
of section 2(8) located in that State; and 
(ii) the allocation of grant funds with-
in that State for projects in or affecting 
the State; and 
(B) shall— 
(i) consult with— 
(I) the Secretary of Agriculture; 
(II) the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development; 
(III) the Secretary of Education; 
(IV) the Secretary of Labor; 
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(b) ELIGIBILITY.—The Assistant Secretary may 
award a grant under the Program to any of the following 
entities if the entity is not serving, and has not served, 
as the administering entity for a State under section 4(b): 
(1) A political subdivision, agency, or instru-
mentality of a State, including an agency of a State 
that is responsible for administering or supervising 
adult education and literacy activities in the State. 
(2) An Indian tribe, an Alaska Native entity, or 
a Native Hawaiian organization. 
(3) A foundation, corporation, institution, or 
association that is— 
(A) a not-for-profit entity; and 
(B) not a school. 
(4) A community anchor institution. 
(5) A local educational agency. 
(6) An entity that carries out a workforce devel-
opment program. 
(7) A partnership between any of the entities 
described in paragraphs (1) through (6). 
(8) A partnership between— 
(A) an entity described in any of para-
graphs (1) through (6); and 
(B) an entity that— 
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(i) the Assistant Secretary, by rule, 
determines to be in the public interest; and 
(ii) is not a school. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An entity that wishes to be 
awarded a grant under the Program shall submit to the 
Assistant Secretary an application— 
(1) at such time, in such form, and containing 
such information as the Assistant Secretary may re-
quire; and 
(2) that— 
(A) provides a detailed explanation of how 
the entity will use any grant amounts awarded 
under the Program to carry out the purposes of 
the Program in an efficient and expeditious 
manner; 
(B) identifies the period in which the ap-
plicant will expend the grant funds awarded 
under the Program; 
(C) includes— 
(i) a justification for the amount of 
the grant that the applicant is requesting; 
and 
(ii) for each fiscal year in which the 
applicant will expend the grant funds, a 
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budget for the activities that the grant 
funds will support; 
(D) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the 
Assistant Secretary that the entity— 
(i) is capable of carrying out— 
(I) the project or function to 
which the application relates; and 
(II) the activities described in 
subsection (h)— 
(aa) in a competent manner; 
and 
(bb) in compliance with all 
applicable Federal, State, and 
local laws; and 
(ii) if the applicant is an entity de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1), shall appro-
priate or otherwise unconditionally obligate 
from non-Federal sources funds that are 
necessary to meet the requirements of sub-
section (e); 
(E) discloses to the Assistant Secretary the 
source and amount of other Federal, State, or 
outside funding sources from which the entity 
receives, or has applied for, funding for activi-
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ties or projects to which the application relates; 
and 
(F) provides— 
(i) the assurances that are required 
under subsection (f); and 
(ii) an assurance that the entity shall 
follow such additional procedures as the 
Assistant Secretary may require to ensure 
that grant funds are used and accounted 
for in an appropriate manner. 
(d) AWARD OF GRANTS.— 
(1) FACTORS
CONSIDERED
IN
AWARD
OF 
GRANTS.—In deciding whether to award a grant 
under the Program, the Assistant Secretary shall, to 
the extent practicable, consider— 
(A) whether— 
(i) an application shall, if approved— 
(I) increase internet access and 
the adoption of broadband among cov-
ered populations to be served by the 
applicant; and 
(II) not result in unjust enrich-
ment; and 
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(ii) the applicant is, or plans to sub-
contract with, a socially and economically 
disadvantaged small business concern; 
(B) the comparative geographic diversity of 
the application in relation to other eligible ap-
plications; and 
(C) the extent to which an application may 
duplicate or conflict with another program. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the ac-
tivities required under subparagraph (B), an 
entity to which the Assistant Secretary awards 
a grant under the Program shall use the grant 
amounts to support not less than 1 of the fol-
lowing activities: 
(i) To develop and implement digital 
inclusion activities that benefit covered 
populations. 
(ii) To facilitate the adoption of 
broadband by covered populations in order 
to provide educational and employment op-
portunities to those populations. 
(iii) To implement, consistent with the 
purposes of this Act— 
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(I) training programs for covered 
populations that cover basic, ad-
vanced, and applied skills; or 
(II) other workforce development 
programs. 
(iv) To make available equipment, in-
strumentation, networking capability, hard-
ware and software, or digital network tech-
nology for broadband services to covered 
populations at low or no cost. 
(v) To construct, upgrade, expend, or 
operate new or existing public access com-
puting centers for covered populations 
through community anchor institutions. 
(vi) To undertake any other project 
and activity that the Assistant Secretary 
finds to be consistent with the purposes for 
which the Program is established. 
(B) EVALUATION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—An entity to which 
the Assistant Secretary awards a grant 
under the Program shall use not more 
than 10 percent of the grant amounts to 
measure and evaluate the activities sup-
ported with the grant amounts. 
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