State Plans Show Us the Cost of Eliminating the Digital Equity Act

 You’re reading the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s Weekly Digest, a recap of the biggest (or most overlooked) broadband stories of the week. The digest is delivered via e-mail each Friday.

Round-Up for the Week of May 26-30, 2025

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. All states have now terminated the adoption programs they had spent years developing in preparation for receiving their Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funds.

Digital Equity Planning Grant Program

The Digital Equity Planning Grant Program provided $60 million to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Tribal entities for the purposes of developing digital equity plans to increase the adoption and meaningful use of broadband by residents of those states.

Congress challenged states to develop measurable objectives and indicators that demonstrate progress among each “covered population” across five focus areas in their plans:

1. The availability of affordable broadband.
2. The online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services.
3. Digital literacy.
4. Awareness and use of measures to secure online privacy and cybersecurity.
5. The availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices.

Envisioning Digital Equity

As part of these plans, states and territories provided a vision of what digital equity looks like.

For Alabama, digital equity means envisioning a connected, interconnected future. In that envisioned future, all Alabamians—including those who are not currently connected or who face other barriers to digital opportunity—will have the opportunity to benefit from broadband internet, for purposes of economic opportunity, education, healthcare, and all the other ways the internet offers digital opportunity.

The vision of American Samoa’s BROANDBANDiNEI Digital Equity Plan is to ensure that all American Samoans have access to affordable, inclusive, accessible and secure resources and opportunities to become an effective part of the digital global village.

The State of Delaware envisions a future where every individual, regardless of their location or background, has full access to high-speed internet connectivity and the tools necessary to harness its transformative potential.

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA)‘s vision––to support a healthy and economically strong Commonwealth––is that every resident deserves to have digital dignity and confidently participate in our increasingly connected society.

In Florida, digital equity means a future where every Floridian benefits from a connected economy through the meaningful use of high-speed Internet—to enhance educational and employment opportunities, access telehealth, and engage with families, and local communities.

Hawai’i’s vision of digital equity is that all who call the state of Hawai’i home have the confidence, ability, and pathways to thrive in the digital world.

The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office envisions a connected and inclusive state where every resident has an affordable high-speed internet connection available to them regardless of where they live, how much money they make, or what they look like.

It is the vision of the State of Oregon that all people in Oregon will have access to affordable and reliable high-speed broadband internet to attain positive economic, educational, and health outcomes and to participate in social and civic life. 

Texas‘s vision is to improve quality of life and promote economic growth by enabling fast, reliable and affordable broadband connectivity for all residents and businesses of Texas, promoting universal broadband adoption and providing access to digital skills development.  

Wyoming’s vision is to ensure that every citizen and business can connect to and effectively use affordable, reliable, and future-proof broadband.

Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program

The Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program allocated $1.44 billion in funding to the states, territories, and Tribal entities so that they can implement their digital equity plans. The purpose of the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program was to create the conditions where individuals and communities have the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in the society and economy of the United States.

By December 2024, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) had approved and recommended for award all state and U.S. territory applications for the first round of funding from the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program.

States’ Plans for Capacity Funds

With their digital equity plans completed and approved, states were ready to execute their digital equity visions, including activities such as:

In Alabama, the Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) planned to use over $13 million to support digital workforce development, expand opportunities to learn online safety and privacy, expand access to computing devices, and expand online accessibility of government services.

California aimed to use its $70 million in Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funds to create a digital equity capacity grant program to expand statewide and community-based digital navigation and digital inclusion programs. Other initiatives included in California’s plan include a plan to further develop and promote digital inclusion tools and best practices, and secure sustainable, affordable broadband options all Californians.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) was awarded $2 million for its digital equity plan, which highlighted an initiative to establish a robust telehealth network connecting the Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands. CNMI also planned to form a working group with at least one representative from each school district to assess the current Internet technology (IT) curriculum, and launch a digital navigator program.

Connecticut was planning to use $9.1 million to create an urban and rural Digital Navigator Pilot program. The state aimed to develop a digital equity curriculum covering basic digital literacy, online safety, digital citizenship, information literacy, and the use of AI tools. Connecticut also planned to create a searchable database that identifies and categorizes digital equity resources, ensuring the sustainability of its digital equity programming.

Two of Georgia’s priorities for its $22 million in Capacity Grant Program funds were deploying Digital Navigators to help access online education, health, financial, and government services, and expanding access to digital devices, such as upgrading public computer labs and device loan programs.

The Indiana Broadband Office (IBO) planned to use over $15 million in Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funds to roll out large-scale programs facilitated with other state agencies focused on telehealth expansion, digital skills for incarcerated individuals, and accessibility of state websites and digital services. IBO would also have upgraded state websites for accessibility and usability, and introduced the Indiana Digital Skills program, a campaign to address connectivity barriers, device access, and digital literacy.

Maine planned to use its $5.7 million in Capacity Grant Program funding to create a comprehensive digital opportunity program, including support for internet access, digital skills building, and internet safety education. The state also planned to conduct a statewide device donation and refurbishment campaign, as well as a statewide awareness campaign for a new online directory of digital resources called Tech Help for ME.

Among other efforts, Michigan plans to use its $20 million in funding to implement its Inclusive Training, Technology, and Equity Network (MITTEN), which includes a robust statewide Digital Navigator Network that will disseminate information from state agencies pertaining to online accessibility of services, new opportunities for workforce or education, and affordable Internet service plans and devices.

In Minnesota, the state’s $12 million in funds would go towards piloting a Digital Opportunity Leaders Network to combine “local energy, regional expertise, and statewide continuity”. The state would also create a directory of Digital Opportunity resources and explore potential models for a broadband subsidy program, a statewide technology helpline, and a state-managed system to loan large-screen devices.

Montana was awarded over $6.9 million to upgrade facility access for the Montana School for the Deaf & Blind to support distance learning across Montana. The state also planned to expand the Last Mile Prison Coding and Web Development Program for the Montana Department of Corrections, as well as connect rural Montanans to workforce development and other essential services through the Montana Prosperity Portal.

Nevada‘s $9 million in funding would go towards deploying a cadre of Digital Navigators and promoting community WiFi and computer cabs at community anchor institutions.

In New Mexico’s Digital Equity Plan, the state aimed to ensure all New Mexicans can access information or training to learn how to protect their security and privacy online. To do this, the state would have used its $8 million in Capacity Grant Program funds to improve online safety and privacy protection education, support access to practices and tools that support online safety and privacy, and increase the number of training programs and opportunities available.

New York’s ConnectALL Office planned to use its $36 million in funding to fund new and existing programs that distribute new and refurbished devices, such as computers or laptops. To add to this, ConnectALL planned to also fund tech support programs as a job-readiness pathway. And to emphasize safety online, the office aimed to establish digital safety trainings that protect against stolen data, scams, surveillance, and online harassment.

West Virginia‘s $9 million award would be going to the launch of a Digital Skills program to provide training, education, and online resources, as well as an affordable device program to provide eligible residents with devices and funding for local governments to create digital equity plans tailored to the needs of their constituents.

Among the activities that the Wisconsin Public Services Commission (PSC) planned to use its $13 million in funds for are its Digital Navigator Competitive Grant Program and a separate Digital Navigator Pilot Program for incarcerated individuals to increase digital skills.

So, What Now?

With the termination of this funding, none of these plans will be implemented. And none of these barriers to access, adoption, and use of the internet will be improved upon. Through the Digital Equity Act, Congress charged the states with closing the digital divide. Without Digital Equity Act funding, the states are unable to fulfill this mandate.

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