Incarcerated Individuals

The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act, providing support for law enforcement, economic development, scientific research, and other national priorities. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 19-10, provides $79.7 billion in discretionary funding, including $6.6 billion in defense funding and $73.1 billion in nondefense funding. 

The fifth report of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access (Task Force) continues the ambitious goals set by the Task Force in 2024 and provides forward-looking recommendations that will continue to promote the efficient, strategic expansion of broadband access and adoption across Wisconsin. This 2025 Task Force Report comes at a pivotal time for policy makers and elected officials. Many of the past recommendations that were enacted are resulting in significant measurable progress for internet access and adoption in Wisconsin.

Nearly 1,000 public comments have poured into the Federal Communications Commission’s docket, protesting the agency’s decision to delay enforcement of rules designed to help incarcerated people connect with their loved ones. The outpouring comes in response to the FCC signaling on June 30 that it would delay enforcement of rules that were adopted in 2024 to lower the cost of phone and video calls from prisons until April

Most of us were watching the "Big, Beautiful Bill" get passed this week, which for the broadband world means the renewal of the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum auction authority.

Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez issued a statement after FCC leadership overrode a bipartisan Commission vote and halted implementation of the bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Act, which mandates reductions in exorbitant prison phone and video call rates. “Sadly, the real cost of this delay will be felt far beyond Washington. We cannot ignore the fact that the burden of inaction falls squarely on the shoulders of families. One in three families go into debt just to afford phone calls and visits with loved ones behind bars.

Not only did Congress unanimously pass the Martha Wright Reed Act, but the Federal Communications Commission unanimously adopted the decision. And the Federal Communications Commission’s newly appointed General Counsel vigorously and persuasively defended the decision in April 2025.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the agency’s Wireline Competition Bureau has taken action to address the consequences stemming from the Commission’s 2024 decision on Incarcerated People’s Communications Services. The order extends the deadlines by which IPCS providers must comply with certain rules adopted in the 2024 IPCS Order until April 1, 2027 or any alternative date the FCC sets as part of further action.

The denial of equitable access has been a defining feature throughout American history.

When President Donald Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on the first day of his second term, he launched an initiative to reduce federal grants, contracts, and programs across Federal government agencies. As of June 3, 2025, DOGE was estimating $180 billion in "savings" as a result of these reductions. This estimate includes funding for national broadband and digital equity efforts that have been cut entirely or significantly revamped in the last two months alone.

On behalf of the 156 individuals leading 140 organizations serving communities from 39 states, we, the undersigned, urge you to reinstate the Digital Equity Act (DEA) Programs that were cancelled on May 9, 2025. We are the organizations that would have carried out the work funded by the Digital Equity Act Program, created and authorized by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.