Individuals with Disabilities

The Northeast Ohio Regional Digital Opportunity Alliance, which includes the Cuyahoga County Public Library, was planning to increase the number of digital navigators in 2025. It was part of a larger plan to expand efforts to close the digital equity gap.

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.

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.

A group of representatives from Illinois, led by Sen Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), wrote to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the termination of the Digital Equity Act. The group objected to the cancellation of the funding and urged Secretary Lutnick to reinstate the funding immediately. "Congress recognized that broadband access and digital literacy are increasingly critical for employment, education, healthcare and participation in the broader economy.

The Trump Administration pulled the plug on Vermont's $5.3 million 'Digital Equity' program in May. The program would have bridged Vermont's digital divide, providing devices and digital training to people who cannot access the internet, making broadband more accessible and affordable to folks living in rural communities, low-income households and people facing other digital barriers. Now, some have been left behind. Federal officials claim that the program was created using diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) framework. Vermont's Community Broadband Board says that is just not the case.

Gigi Sohn, executive director of the American Association for Public Broadband, says that Trump’s reversal of the Digital Equity Act will result in more Americans being unable to access the Internet due to lack of resources or skills. “We will continue to have a massive digital divide in this country,” said Sohn.

The Digital Equity Act established the Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Since early May, all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Tribal entities have grappled with the termination of broadband adoption funding through the Digital Equity Act, which President Donald Trump, via a social media post, declared to be racist, illegal, and unconstitutional.