Federal government cuts $35 million in grant funding for digital accessibility services

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The federal government has terminated $35 million of Maine's funding from the Digital Equity Act.

The funding would have provided accessibility to internet safety education and affordable devices. It would have benefitted roughly 130,000 Mainers, including rural residents, older residents, low-income households, veterans and students.


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Three different grants make up the millions of dollars. Ten million dollars went to the Maine Connectivity Authority, $13.8 million went to the National Digital Equity Center and $11 million went to the Greater Portland Council of Government. The Bridgton Public Library is one of many partners with the NDEC.

"Digital access is really so important, and especially for small and rural places," said Amy Stone, library director at Bridgton Public Library. "To have that funding cut when we really need it most is certainly going to present some difficulties for us in providing services to our community."

Those services are provided with the NDEC. It includes learning how to user the internet safely, avoiding scams in emails and accessing Telehealth appointments.

The termination comes after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, saying the Digital Equity Act is unconstitutional and calling the program "a racist and illegal $2.5 billion dollar giveaway."

"We don't agree with that statement," NDEC Executive Director Susan Corbett said. "We think that, You know, in order for everyone to be online and participate in our digital economy, then we need to help people learn how to use some of those digital skills."

A letter from the United States Department of Commerce shares a similar sentiment, saying "The Digital Equity Capacity Program is unconstitutional and grants issued pursuant to it were created with, and administered using, impermissible and unconstitutional racial preferences."

Amongst uncertainty, advocates say they're still going to help everyone participate in the digital economy.

"We're just going to keep on fighting it and help those that don't understand what we do, help them understand what we do and why it's important," Corbett said.

We've reached out to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for comment, but have not heard back.