Summary:

The College Underserved/Community Partnership Program (CUPP) was created to provide a creative approach to partnering and delivering technical assistance to underserved communities from local colleges and universities. CUPP enlists colleges and universities, with appropriate programs, to assist these underserved communities, with vital technical support, through student internships and capstone projects.

CUPP promotes collaboration at all levels of government and facilitates partnerships that include public and private entities, and nongovernmental organizations striving to address the needs of underserved communities. CUPP has agreements with FEMA; Department of Agriculture; Department of Interior; Department of Energy; and the HHS Office of Public Health.

Eligible Recipients:

Higher Education Institution

Eligible Recipients Detail:

Colleges/Universities

Eligible Purpose:

Broadband Development Planning; Digital Skills Training

Eligible Purpose Detail:

The program enlists colleges and universities to assist underserved communities through student internships, practicums and capstone projects.

NTIA, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) (Region IV) College Underserved Community Partnership Program (CUPP), established a broadband training pilot program with the University of West Alabama (UWA). Through this partnership, NTIA conducted a two-day seminar in October 2019 to train students on broadband planning and, in turn, over the course of the semester, UWA’s academic staff and students drafted a comprehensive Rural Broadband Plan for the cities of Livingston and York, Alabama.