Financial Assistance

January 6, 2025

NDIA celebrates all the organizations recommended for a Digital Equity Act Competitive Grant award today. This is an incredible moment for the United States – strengthening our global competitiveness by investing in the digital readiness of our people. All the prospective awardees, including NDIA’s 13 sub-grantees, are trusted institutions and experts at increasing reliable access to the internet and devices while providing digital skills training and support. 

We Care Tucson provides individuals with access to information technology, medical equipment, and supplies. Through the restoration of donated computers and reusable medical devices, including the responsible recycling of non-functional components, we strive to cultivate an equitable and sustainable community in Southern Arizona.

EveryoneOn Arizona is a statewide organization that supports the sign-up process for the Affordable Connectivity Program. They assist individuals and families in applying for affordable internet plans, ensuring that everyone has access to essential online resources and opportunities.

Connected Journeys: Stories of Broadband and Digital Equity

NDIA created a low-cost internet ratings system, NDIA Grading Internet for Good (GIG), to evaluate low-cost plans’ affordability and quality. Low-cost plans are graded using a rubric and given a Good, Better, or Best rating.

Jun 14, 2023

The Biden administration on June 12 announced it will send $714 million to help rural areas in 19 states connect to the internet, including $25 million for the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

A collective public/private campaign aimed at eliminating the gap between Tucsonans who have access to telecommunications – and the educational, economic, and social advantages connectivity brings – and those who do not. A project fund of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, the coalition for Tucson Connected works together to deliver strategies that reduce and eliminate historical barriers to technology access and use.

T-Mobile has taken steps to address digital equity through its "Project 10 Million," which offers free internet access and mobile devices to eligible students and their families. The program aims to bridge the homework gap and provide equitable access to educational resources.

RefurbIT is an initiative of the ACHIEVE Enterprise Services, a full-service electronic recycling center that is an industry leader in converting obsolete computer electronics into reusable and refurbished products and provides refurbished IT equipment at discounted prices. RefurbIT serves Yuma, San Luis, Somerton, Wellton, Gadsden, Parker, Quartzsite, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, Casa Grande, and Maricopa.

Cox is committed to promoting digital equity through various programs and initiatives. One of their notable programs is Connect2Compete, which aims to bridge the digital divide by offering affordable internet access and devices to low-income families with school-aged children. Connect2Compete provides discounted internet service plans, digital literacy training, and access to affordable devices, ensuring that students have the tools and connectivity they need to succeed academically. Cox is a provider of the Affordable Connectivity Program and also works in collaboration with community organizations on STEM programs and engages in robust community outreach.

The Arizona Technology Access Program, in partnership with Achieve Human Services and RefurbIT, offers free or low-cost technology devices and items needed for disabled Arizonans to participate in the digital world. Their services include free or low-cost technology and medical devices, low-interest technology loans, user training and demonstrations, loaner programs, and digital workforce training. AzTAP serves the entire state of Arizona from its Phoenix-based program.

Arizona State University works to advance digital equity in Arizona. The university offers a range of programs including workforce development, financial and digital literacy, disability services, career services, and research initiatives related to technology and innovation. ASU’s robust community outreach programs, research collaborations, and innovative partnerships, seek to address the barriers faced by underserved communities including challenges related to accessing and utilizing technologies.

The Arizona Department of Homeland Security provides cybersecurity services at no-cost to State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments (SLTTs) and K-12 school districts through the Statewide Cyber Readiness Program. Services and products include Advanced Endpoint Protection, Security Awareness Training and Anti-Phishing, Converged Endpoint Management, Multi-Factor Authentication, and Web Application Firewall.

Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology collects, sorts, reuses, refurbishes and recycles all electronics. Our mission is to improve the competitiveness of Arizona’s technical workforce while protecting our environmental resources.

The Erate “Special Construction” projects enable educators to dramatically enhance their professional development capabilities and communities will be transformed by the cultural and economic benefits of simply being connected to the Internet.

This page contains a list of grants related to broadband in Arizona

As an independent not-for-profit under the guidance of the FCC, USAC's mission is to bring the high-speed Internet (broadband) to areas of the country underserved by existing utilities.

Affordable internet is here. Whether it's health care, education, or your career, make the most of your Affordable Connectivity Program discount.

Tribal Broadband page with information about resources and ways to get involved with AIPI

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is a $3 billion program directed to tribal governments to be used for broadband deployment on tribal lands, as well as for telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion. 

Learn about Arizona's Broadband Efforts, where the state is actively working to improve internet access and connectivity for its residents.

Bipartisan infrastructure law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly provides over $28.4 million to deliver broadband to underserved communities in Arizona

The grant allocated a total of $75.7 million to 14 awardees in rural counties and $23.6 million to six awardees in urban counties, spurring $112.8 million in local matching funds.