Economy
Trump Administration Reinstates Broadband Grant Program After Court Ruling
The Trump administration will reinstate a broadband grant program after a court ruling blocked its attempt to fully scrap the Digital Equity Act, a 2021 law providing $2.75 billion for three programs to close connectivity gaps.
The government said in a court filing it plans to accept grant applications starting in December, but won a partial victory as the judge barred allocating funds based on race or ethnicity, while allowing criteria like income, age, and disability. The Biden administration had awarded $60 million in planning grants to states in 2022 and began distributing the remaining funds in 2024. Trump announced in May 2025 he would end the programs, calling the act racist and unconstitutional. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), which was set to receive $25.7 million before termination, sued in US District Court for the District of Columbia over the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, a $1.25 billion slice of the total.
The separate $1.44 billion state grant program remains discontinued, with no lawsuit filed. The NDIA called the revival a massive win for the communities we serve, though it must reapply.
Source: Ars Technica
