Native Entities Grant Program

The Native Entities Grant Program, solicitation number 2026-NTIA-NEGP, is a federal grant opportunity administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the Department of Commerce. Authorized by the Digital Equity Act of 2021, the program provides funding to Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations, or consortia thereof, to promote broadband adoption and expand internet access in unserved communities. The program combines the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program into a single application process, with a total set-aside of no less than 250 million dollars. Individual awards are generally expected to range from 500,000 to 2,500,000 dollars. Eligible applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management and provide a valid unique entity identifier. The application process involves a three-stage review consisting of initial eligibility, merit review, and programmatic review. Merit evaluations are based on project purpose and need, performance measures and sustainability, the strength of the implementation plan and budget, and organizational capability. Successful applicants must expend grant funds within four years, with an additional year allowed for measurement and evaluation. Key requirements include a 10 percent cap on both administrative and evaluation costs, compliance with the Build America, Buy America Act for infrastructure projects, and adherence to NIST and CISA cybersecurity frameworks. The final deadline for application submission is November 17, 2026.