The Community Broadband Action Network announced Wednesday that it has received a grant of more than $380,000 through the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, which will establish a Digital Navigator Corps program in Iowa.
The grant is part of a $10 million investment from Google, which is establishing a national Digital Navigator Corps. The national initiative includes the hiring of 18 community-based digital navigators for three years, through August 2025.
According to a news release, digital navigators are trusted guides who assist community members in internet adoption and the use of computing devices. Iowa’s digital navigator will provide one-on-one assistance with affordable internet access, device acquisition, technical skills, and application support, including for the Affordable Connectivity Program broadband service subsidy.
“There are many ways we’ll be able to serve rural Iowans, and having the program funded for three years shows Google and NDIA’s commitment to its success,” said Curtis Dean, CBAN co-founder and vice president. “We are equally committed as CBAN expands its ability to educate, support and serve communities across our nationwide member base.”
CBAN and other sub-grantees will receive programmatic and technical support to further develop the digital navigator model for rural and tribal communities. The release said the program will help thousands of Iowans access the internet, devices and digital skills training.
CBAN co-founder Todd Kielkopf will serve as program manager for Iowa Digital Navigator program.
