Individuals with Disabilities

A year ago today, President Trump abruptly “canceled” the Digital Equity Act (DEA) for being a “woke handout.” The DEA, created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, directed funding to states, territories, and community organizations to address the Digital Divide and ensure that everyone has internet-enabled devices, reliable internet service, and the skills needed to use broadband to improve their lives.

On May 6, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a sweeping ruling that vacates—wipes off the books entirely—the Federal Communications Commission's final rules prohibiting digital discrimination in broadband access. The decision leaves millions of consumers—particularly those in low-income communities and communities of color—without the federal anti-discrimination framework Congress directed the FCC to create.

The loss of the Digital Equity Act impacted each of us differently. Some National Digital Inclusion Alliance affiliates had to scrap projects, others had to make hard staffing decisions and lay off staff, and some organizations have shuttered their doors. And yet, time and time again, our brilliant, amazing community of NDIA affiliates has demonstrated resilience and tenacity that humbles the NDIA team.

Adrianne Benton Furniss is the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s new Chair of its Board of Directors. Succeeding Austin L. Hirsch, Furniss steps into her new role after a ten-year tenure as Benton’s executive director ended in 2025. For over a decade, Furniss has focused the organization on ensuring that the benefits of robust, affordable broadband service deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities around the nation. In the past year, Furniss has focused on Benton’s community engagement and other education and outreach work in the Institute’s home state of Illinois.

Sen Edward Markey (D-MA), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and author of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Reps Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Brian Fitzpatrick (D-PA-01) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act. This bill would update and strengthen the CVAA to ensure that people with disabilities have access to innovative communication and video technologies to ensure they can participate equally in employment, educat

U.S. District Judge John Bates declined to pause litigation over the Trump administration's termination of up to $2.75 billion in digital literacy and upskilling grants, rejecting arguments that a parallel case could clarify key legal issues. The plaintiff representing affected grantees, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, moved on March 25 to stay the case, contending that a forthcoming decision in Climate United Fund v. Citibank could resolve overlapping jurisdictional questions and help avoid duplicative litigation.

The 2027 Budget builds on the President’s vision by continuing to constrain non-defense spending and reform the Federal Government.  The Budget proposes a 10-percent cut compared to 2026 non-defense levels.

The lawsuit over the Trump administration’s suspension of grants from the $2.75 billion program to close the digital divide may come to a pause. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) filed a motion to put its lawsuit suing President Donald Trump on hold because there is a similar case further along that would control the outcome. 

Thirty years ago, in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress reaffirmed a national commitment first articulated in 1934: communications services should be available to all Americans, without discrimination, and at just and reasonable rates. Lawmakers also recognized that universal service could no longer mean just plain old telephone service. In an emerging digital economy, the promise had to extend to what they called “advanced communications,” and we now popularly call internet access and broadband.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance is thrilled to share the incredible achievements detailed in the New York Digital Inclusion Fund (NYDIF) Innovation Grant Final Report. Over the course of two years, ten Innovation grantees were funded, leading to the creation and expansion of vital digital inclusion programs that address barriers to connectivity, devices, and digital skills.