Digital inclusion organizations are reeling after the Trump administration announced the Digital Equity Act grant programs, embedded in the bipartisan infrastructure law, was being cancelled months after federal grants had already been reviewed and awarded. The Wiscasset, Maine-based National Digital Equity Center was one of 65 organizations and public entities NTIA announced in January had been approved to receive funds under the agency’s national competitive grant program established by the Digital Equity Act. But in the wake of news that the program was being “terminated,” the Center’s Founder and Executive Director Susan Corbett said she was “saddened by this news. We have been offering digital opportunities to Maine residents since 2018, and have provided digital skills training to over 40,000 participants.” In western North Carolina, where the Land of Sky Regional Council is working with 13 partners across 18 counties to close the digital divide, news that the Digital Equity Act was declared terminated by Presidential decree added insult to injury. “It affects us heavily,” the Council’s Energy & Economic Development Manager Sara Nichols told ILSR. The multi-county regional government planning and development organization had been awarded a $7.7 million NTIA grant to fund a variety of initiatives, which includes the creation of computer labs in mostly rural community centers; providing targeted digital navigation support for older adults; partnering with NC Business of Education, Inc to teach K-12 students how to repair and update devices; operating and staffing a mobile computer lab known as the “Digi-Bus” to bring library and digital navigator services to rural communities and farmers; and to provide digital skills training to help improve telehealth access for veterans.

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