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We are proud to announce that Ameelio has been recommended to receive the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant. This award is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's $1.25 billion initiative to enhance digital skills and promote inclusion across the United States.
For decades, incarcerated people across the country have faced significant barriers to meaningfully participate in the digital world. A major challenge has been that most prisons and jails lack basic internet infrastructure for people under custody, resulting in low-quality access to critical educational, vocational and reentry programming and creating a bottleneck for any new technology to be deployed and function properly. This systemic gap has left millions disconnected from opportunities proven to reduce recidivism and support successful reintegration into society.
With this award, Ameelio will help address this critical issue by spearheading a groundbreaking initiative across two states: Idaho and Utah. The project, titled "Bridging the Digital Divide for the Incarcerated: Digital Tools and Workforce Skills for Re-Entry Success," will provide:
- Broadband Infrastructure: Upgraded networks in correctional facilities to enable robust digital programming.
- Technology Access: Devices and software that facilitate education, workforce development, and personalized support for reentry.
- Programming at Scale: Comprehensive training and tutoring for incarcerated individuals, delivered across 12 facilities in Idaho and Utah.
For over a year, Ameelio has been leading the charge in ensuring that incarcerated individuals are not left behind in this generational investment on digital equity and network infrastructure. This project represents a significant policy and advocacy milestone. Through our project, more than $10M federal funding will be made available to a population chronically and systematically neglected. Now we turn to the real work: To enable changes through our software and hardware, to deliver outcomes to our users, and to truly ensure that digital equity reaches behind bars.
Our Partners
This funding enables us to collaborate with exceptional partners to provide unprecedented resources to incarcerated individuals, setting a new standard for rehabilitative support and paving the way for a more equitable justice system. Our partners will contribute:
- Utah and Idaho Department of Correction: Supporting implementation across 12 facilities in both states.
- Petey Greene Program: Providing award-winning, individualized tutoring for incarcerated individuals, currently active in six states.
- Workbay: Delivering workforce development tools to empower individuals and close economic gaps.
- Digital Harbor Foundation and MN Associates: Offering extensive experience in federal grant administration and program evaluation.
- Iron Bow Technologies: Leading managed services provider, assisting facility partners in building and optimizing network infrastructure.
“The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) is excited to partner with Idaho and Ameelio on this digital equity initiative aimed at advancing our mission of working together, transforming lives, and protecting communities,” said Rebecca Brown, Deputy Executive Director of UDC. “Through enhanced networks and tablets for justice-involved individuals, this project will provide access to job training, education, and reentry support, empowering individuals to build skills for successful reintegration. By expanding opportunities for rehabilitation and workforce development, this partnership strengthens our collaborative efforts to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety through meaningful change and community reintegration.”
Decades of research demonstrate that access to education and workforce training in prisons reduces infractions and recidivism, contributing to safer communities and stronger families. By addressing the structural barriers to digital access, this project will improve lives during and after incarceration and set a replicable model for national expansion.
"We are grateful to the NTIA for making this much-needed investment. The carceral experience is too often hidden from the public narrative, and we are so glad that our advocacy brought real resources for those behind bars,” said April Feng, Chief Executive Officer of Ameelio. "Our commitment is to our users - the people behind bars and the families outside waiting for their loved ones to come home. We are honored to be the technology solution that will concretely transform correctional facilities into hubs of rehabilitation. We can’t wait to get to work.”
About Ameelio
Ameelio is the only nonprofit communications and education provider in corrections, serving over 100,000 incarcerated individuals and their support network in nine states and over 30 facilities. We’re committed to transforming the corrections system by providing free communication tools and educational resources. By leveraging technology, Ameelio seeks to reduce recidivism and promote successful reentry into society.
For more information about Ameelio and its initiatives, please visit www.ameelio.org or email team@ameelio.org.
For more details on the NTIA's announcement, please refer to the official press release: https://www.ntia.gov/press-release/2025/biden-harris-administration-recommends-award-more-250-million-expand-digital-skills.
