'Equity' Term Leads to Suspension of Broadband Program

Hawaii hopes to restore ‘racist’ broadband access grant canceled by president

The decision was baffling to supporters of internet access, because the program has nothing to do with race or ethnicity.

Trump administration's cancellation of internet access grants will cost Southwest and Southside Virginia, officials say

Roanoke, VA (Cardinal News)

'Equity' term leads to suspension of broadband program

On Monday, the Indiana Broadband Office announced it was told by the federal government to suspend the application period for its Digital Opportunity Grant program. The decision could inhibit efforts to expand high-speed internet to unserved or underserved communities, particularly…

Federal broadband grant cut to cost Vermont $5 million

MONTPELIER – Funding for a program aimed at helping Vermonters learn to use the internet has been cut, costing the state at least $5 million.

Flawed Federal Programs Maroon Rural Americans in Telehealth Limbo

Uncertainty around federal efforts to expand high-speed internet — and with it telehealth access — to all Americans swirled fast this week after President Donald Trump vowed to end what he called the “racist” and “unconstitutional” Digital Equity Act.  The act is part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which passed under former President Joe Biden and included $65 billion for broadband infrastructure. But before…

Trump is trying to kill rural internet because the law that pays for it has ‘equity’ in the name

Since President Donald Trump took office, one of his fondest pastimes has been firing off randomly capitalized social media posts lambasting various laws as—and this is a technical term—too woke to be legal. Among his targets last week was the Digital Equity Act, which he deemed “RACIST,” “ILLEGAL,” and “totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL.” He wrapped by promising to (attempt to) end the program immediately. “No more woke handouts based on race!” he wrote…