Digital Equity Technical Assistance Webinars
OSIT will hold technical assistance webinars at the following dates and times on the following topics. All webinars will be recorded and posted on the OSIT website and the OSIT YouTube channel. Following the recorded presentation, OSIT will hold an office hours for questions and answers. Past webinars can be viewed on the OSIT YouTube Channel.
Overview of NTIA Competitive Grant:
Statewide Digital Equity Plan
In Nevada, the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT) is charged with developing and realizing a digital equity vision for the state. The Digital Equity Act, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), invited states to establish a vision for digital equity that will guide overarching strategies and goals. OSIT took a comprehensive approach to developing and crafting a statewide digital equity plan. Following public comment, that plan was submitted to and accepted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIA’s acceptance of the plan has unlocked funding for OSIT to begin to implement the strategies and activities we describe in the plan. OSIT is in the process of applying for these funds and expects funds to be available for competitive solicitation in late 2024 or early 2025. More updates to this timeline will be forthcoming as OSIT learns more from NTIA.
OSIT is pleased to present its Statewide Digital Equity Plan. Digital Equity is an important part of the High Speed Nevada Initiative. This plan is the result of thousands of hours, miles, and conversations with Nevadans from all corners of the state.
The Planning Process
The digital equity planning process is an essential part of the High Speed Nevada Initiative and the State’s goal that every Nevadan has access to affordable, reliable and scalable Internet service.
In October 2022, the State of Nevada received a $754,458 Digital Equity Planning Grant from the US Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which will be an essential part of the State's goal for the High Speed Nevada Initiative.
What is Digital Equity?
Digital equity is a term that refers to whether Nevadans can afford access to a fast, reliable home Internet service, have a connected device, and have the digital literacy needed to use the Internet to learn, earn and live well. Over the next six to nine months, OSIT will use the planning dollars to create a statewide digital equity plan. Once the plan is approved by the NTIA, the State will unlock additional funding to implement the plan.
As a part of the statewide planning process, OSIT will work with communities across the state to assess digital equity needs and barriers, create an inventory of digital equity assets and partners, including existing resources and strategies that promote digital equity, and develop an implementation strategy in partnership with key stakeholders once additional funding is received.
To kick off the planning process, OSIT has mapped a digital divide index that geographically measures the level of digital distress across the state. Based on a preliminary review of the data, the following are among the communities that are more likely to be digitally distressed that OSIT will seek to understand during its planning process:
- low-income households
- aging populations
- veterans
- rural residents
- residents of multi-dwelling or multi-family housing
- racial and ethnic minorities
- individuals with language barriers
- individuals with disabilities
Mapping Resources
Affordable Internet Options by County
Low-cost internet plans exist within most Nevada counties and are listed below. If your company is listed and you would like to make changes to the published prices or if you are a new company that has an offering that meets the criteria, please contact us at HighspeedNV@gov.nv.gov.
Resources for ACP Households: April 2024 is the last month that currently enrolled ACP households will receive their full ACP discount. After May 2024, unless Congress provides additional funding, the program will end. As a part of the FCC’s ongoing efforts to ensure clear and consistent consumer education about the program, the Consumer Affairs & Outreach Division (CAOD) has developed new outreach partner resources available at www.fcc.gov/acp including:
Online Safety - Avoid Scams
OSIT has been hearing about the proliferation of scams in emails, text messages, and phone calls. Sometimes scammers pretend to be a respected local official, a delivery company, a trusted business partner, or even a family member.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers these recommendations to help avoid scams:
- Block unknown callers and text messages
- Don't provide personal or financial information in response to an unexpected request
- Resist the pressure to act immediately - take time to research the request
- Don't pay via cryptocurrency, gift cards, payment apps, or wire transfer when asked to do so
- Stop and talk to someone you trust - using contact information you already have, not what was provided by a potential scammer
If you have experienced a scam or think you saw one, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
In addition, this online safety flyer (Online Safety V2_English and Online-Safety-v2_Spanish/Español) can be shared with organizations and community members.