- The DEA Month of Action
- NYC Announces $2M for Broadband
- New Mexico Broadband Maps
- Legislation Could Boost Lifeline Participation
- USDA Announces $27M in Grants
THE DEA MONTH OF ACTION
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is marking one year since President Donald Trump canceled the Digital Equity Act (DEA) by designating the DEA Month of Action.
Trump called for an immediate end to the program in a post on Truth Social on May 8, 2025. Although government officials deemed this action illegal, state broadband leaders were left to grapple with funds that “just vanished overnight.” It left important digital inclusion programs and plans without support, impacting individuals across industries, from cybersecurity to ed tech.
From May 8 to June 8 this year, NDIA is urging action to advance three key goals: raising awareness on the harms caused by DEA’s cancelation, ensuring Congress does not deliver on the president’s request to eliminate DEA funds from the fiscal year 2027 budget, and reminding policymakers and other stakeholders of the need for digital inclusion programs.
NDIA will kick off the month on Friday with a social media campaign, making templates available for other stakeholders to use. The Hispanic Federation will also host a virtual press conference this month, at a date and time to be announced, along with members of Congress and other digital inclusion practitioners. From May 18-21, NDIA and other digital inclusion advocates will be meeting with the FCC and members of Congress in Washington, D.C.
NDIA is encouraging people and organizations impacted by DEA’s cancelation to share their stories with a short social media video, highlighting the consequences to planned services and programs; NDIA plans to compile these in a blog post at the end of the month.
Individuals are also encouraged to advocate for digital inclusion or for the DEA to local, state and federal policymakers this month through letters, meetings or other channels. NDIA has previously compiled resources to support these advocacy efforts.
NYC ANNOUNCES $2M FOR BROADBAND
In local news, New York City officials have announced $2 million in federal Community Project Funding to provide Internet access to an additional 2,000 apartments across 50 buildings, connecting residents at affordable housing developments in the Bronx. The funding, revealed this week, builds on the work of the pilot Neighborhood Internet program.
“In the wealthiest city on earth, there is simply no excuse for accepting the persistence of a digital underclass,” Rep. Ritchie Torres said in a statement.
The New York Public Library will provide technical assistance on site to help tenants get connected to Internet service. After the initial installation, technical support will continue to be available to residents at older adult centers, community centers and library branches.
NEW MEXICO BROADBAND MAPS
In state news, the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) announced the launch of a publicly accessible mapping tool: the Broadband Mapping Hub. Through updated maps and data, users can see available Internet speeds and providers across more than 850,000 state locations. Data for this tool comes from state and federal agencies.
“We want New Mexicans to find resources for themselves but also to see what information we use in making decisions,” Natalie Runyan, OBAE GIS and data manager, said in a statement.
The maps do not include current construction and planned projects that are supported by private corporations.
LEGISLATION COULD BOOST LIFELINE PARTICIPATION
In federal news, a bicameral bill introduced last week could increase broadband service access for low-income individuals in both urban and rural communities.
The Promoting Access to Broadband Act is intended to help states build awareness and enrollment in the FCC’s Lifeline program by establishing a competitive grant program through the FCC. Recipients could use the funds to inform eligible individuals that are not enrolled and provide information to help them get access to this subsidy program.
The bill is intended to increase participation in what stakeholders call an “extremely underutilized” program — as Public Knowledge Broadband Policy Director Alisa Valentin dubbed it in a statement. Estimates from the Universal Service Administrative Company indicate that only 22 percent of eligible households are participating in the program nationwide.
NDIA, Public Knowledge, Third Way and the ACLU have endorsed the bill.
USDA ANNOUNCES $27M IN GRANTS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has announced that $27 million in funding is available through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants program.
The program funds equipment that will help connect people in remote parts of the country to education, training and health-care resources and services. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits, and businesses.
Applications are due June 30. More information about the program is available on the DLT website.
Funding through this program can be used for various purposes, including helping students virtually access distant classes, teachers offer educational services to students across the country, and patients seeking specialized care without leaving their communities.
