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Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $5.7 Million to Puerto Rico in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

For Immediate Release

December 6, 2022 

Press Contact

NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002, press@ntia.gov  

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Puerto Rico received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. Puerto Rico is receiving $5,781,987.00 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.

Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves and Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced the award following a meeting of the White House Working Group on Puerto Rico.

"The new Internet for All grants will accelerate Puerto Rico's capacity to provide affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service to everyone on the archipelago," said Deputy Secretary Graves.  "I commend Governor Pierluisi for his commitment to the Smart Island Initiative that provides Puerto Ricans with equitable high-speed Internet access."

“We would like to thank the Biden Administration, particularly the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), for these awards that recognize our efforts to close the digital divide in Puerto Rico,” said Governor Pierluisi. “This partnership with the Puerto Rico Broadband Program, in addition to the $400,000,000 in state funds we have already committed, will ensure a faster expansion of high-speed Internet services across the island. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship to deliver a better quality of life and stronger economy to the 3.2 million American citizens that call Puerto Rico home."

“Greater access to broadband and equity in that access are critical for our communities to grow, especially if we are going to close the economic gaps that affect our rural and low-income areas,” said Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón. “I am encouraged that the federal funds under the Planning Grant programs will be made available and expect that the people in these communities can benefit promptly.”

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. Grant awards for all 56 eligible entities will be announced on a rolling basis. 

About Puerto Rico’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.

Puerto Rico will receive $5 million to fund various activities including:

  • Identification of unserved and underserved locations;
  • Creation of a report assessing high-speed broadband service in Puerto Rico and an action plan;
  • Conducting surveys and community outreach to better understand residents' broadband needs;
  • Local engagement with diverse stakeholders.

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.

Puerto Rico will receive $781,987.00 to fund various activities including:

  • Developing a digital equity plan to connect unserved and underserved populations to the Internet;
  • Identification of communities lacking digital inclusion and literacy;
  • Development of strategies to close digital inclusion gaps, and steer public and private stakeholders to action in response to the gaps;
  • Hiring of personnel to oversee the digital equity plan and support community outreach;
  • Engagement with community members and stakeholders while collecting data.

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 AffordableConnectivity.gov to learn more.

For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet service programs as well as quotes from the awardees, please visit InternetforAll.gov.