At least 20 states have reportedly lost digital equity grant funding

Within days of President Donald Trump announcing on social media that he was ending the federal digital equity grant program, it looks to be consigned to history. All information about the program, which provides funds to help states close the digital divide by building residents’ digital literacy, improving the online accessibility of social services and letting rural communities measure their needs, has disappeared from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s website. Meanwhile, states are starting to see their funding cut off. The State Educational Technology Directors Association said at least 20 have seen planning and capacity grant funding pulled by NTIA in light of the president’s order. The future of states’ digital equity efforts looks murky at best. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the architect of the Digital Equity Act, wants her colleagues to step up, or else legal action could ensue. “All this will take is for Republicans to join us and speak up for their states,” she said. “All 50 states put together a plan and asked for the resources, and I cannot believe there aren't Republican governors out there that are going to join with us to fight back on this. That's one way to do this, and the other way is through the courts, and I'm sure that that will happen as well.”