WASHINGTON – (BUSINESS WIRE) – The Internet Society today announced a new grant program, Expanding Potential in Communities, or Truist EPIC Grant, to support broadband initiatives that help alleviate disparities in education, employment and social welfare in the southeastern United States. These concessions will expand broadband access in communities with complementary Internet connectivity solutions, such as community networks.
The grant is part of Truist Cares, a cooperative effort between Truist Financial Corporation, Truist Foundation, Inc. and Truist Charitable Fund to provide communities, organizations and individuals with disaster relief and assistance during the COVID-19 crisis. The Internet Society will distribute $ 1 million in funding through donations between $ 125,000 and $ 180,000 to organizations and entities to bring high-speed Internet infrastructure with limited or no access to the Internet to low-income communities and indigenous populations or color in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role that the Internet plays in our daily lives and the large number of communities that cannot access the Internet. The need to connect all communities is urgent, as work, school, healthcare and more continue to change online.
“The pandemic has shown that the Internet is an essential infrastructure for all communities, and without it, opportunities are lost and inequalities increase,” said Lynette Bell, president of the Truist Foundation. “We must all work to make high-speed broadband available to everyone who needs it. It is the engine for building strong and sustainable communities and a resource that requires immediate investment. ”
According to data from Microsoft, more than half of Americans – almost 163 million people – do not have access to high-speed broadband, with rural and urban low-income areas affected disproportionately. In particular, the southeastern United States lags behind the rest of the country in terms of Internet access, with 76.9% of households reporting access compared to the national average of 81.9%.
Community networks are communication infrastructures built, managed and used by local communities or municipalities and are a sustainable solution to address these connectivity gaps in underserved regions. The Internet Society has a long history of working with communities around the world to finance, build and train people with the skills necessary to manage and maintain community networks.
“Closing the digital divide and expanding access to the Internet is vital, creating healthier, safer and more resilient communities. We are excited to partner with Truist to help rebuild and revitalize communities with the essential infrastructure for Internet access, ”said Mark Buell, North America regional vice president of the Internet Society, a global nonprofit organization that promotes the development and use of an open and global environment – connected and secure to the Internet.
The Truist EPIC grant application will be available from January 25, 2021, with applications accepted until February 19, 2021. For more information about grants and to download the application, visit www.Internetsociety.org/grants/ epic /.
About the Internet Society
Founded in 1992 by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society is a global non-profit organization that works to ensure that the Internet continues to be a force for good for all. Through its community of members, special interest groups and more than 120 chapters worldwide, the organization advocates and promotes Internet policies, standards and protocols that keep the Internet open, globally connected and secure. For more information, visit: Internetsociety.org.
About Truist Financial Corporation
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company, committed to inspiring and building better communities and lives. With 275 years of combined history of BB&T and SunTrust, Truist has a leading market share in many high growth markets in the country. The company offers a wide range of services, including retail, small businesses and commercial banking; asset Management; capital markets; commercial real estate; corporate and institutional bank; safe; mortgage; payments; specialized loans; and wealth management. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is the sixth largest commercial bank in the United States, with total assets of $ 499 billion as of September 30, 2020. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
About the Truist Foundation
The Truist Foundation is committed to the purpose of the Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) to inspire and build better communities and lives. Founded in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in non-profit organizations to help ensure that the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. Truist Foundation donations and activities focus on leadership development, economic mobility, thriving communities and educational equality. Learn more at Truist.com/Purpose/Truist-Foundation.