Boston — The Healey-Driscoll Administration is raising the alarm about the Trump Administration’s recent action to terminate $14.1 million in federal funding to expand internet access for veterans, rural communities and individuals with disabilities in Massachusetts. The previously awarded funding from the Digital Equity Act (DEA) Capacity Grant Program would have provided communities with the tools, skills and resources to expand the adoption and use of high-speed internet service.
“Everyone deserves access to the internet. It’s essential for being able to participate in our economy and utilize the resources and services that so many of us rely on,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It’s terrible that the Trump Administration is blocking our efforts to bring internet access to veterans, rural communities and individuals with disabilities across the state.”
“The Trump Administration continues to gut programs that connect people with essential services, training opportunities, and tools needed to achieve upward mobility,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “While the federal government is busy rolling back efforts to expand internet access, Massachusetts will keep building on our progress toward internet for all, ensuring everyone has the ability to participate in the digital economy.”
The termination of the DEA Capacity Grant Program will suspend the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech’s) Launchpad Program and the expansion of Municipal Digital Equity Planning and Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Programs. As a result, the programs will be forced to suspend efforts to advance digital skills training, expand access to digital devices, and assist local governments with digital equity planning activities across Massachusetts.
- The Launchpad Program: $9.44 million had been allocated to provide non-profit and public sector entities with the tools to address digital access gaps statewide. Priority would have been given to applicants serving the specific geographic regions of Barnstable, Bristol, and Worcester Counties, including Gateway Municipalities and rural communities. The Launchpad Program addressed the six focus areas of the Digital Equity Partnerships Program, including connectivity for economic hardship (providing ‘hot spots’ to low-income/housing insecure individuals), device distribution and refurbishment, digital literacy, education, outreach and adoption support, public space internet modernization and Wi-Fi access.
- Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program and Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Programs: $1.44 million had been allocated to open new rounds of funding for both programs. The Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program enables cities and towns to apply for strategic planning consultation to tackle internet affordability, digital literacy training and device access. The Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program helps municipalities execute their digital equity plans.
The DEA Capacity Grant Program was created through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 and includes $1.44 billion in funding to all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories. The Executive Office of Economic Development, which oversees MassTech, is evaluating the effect of the termination notice and its legal options.
A division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) works to extend high-speed internet access and availability across the state. To achieve this, MBI uses state and federal funding to launch infrastructure expansion programs that target areas of the state that lack high-speed internet access as well as digital equity programs that tackle barriers to internet adoption and increase availability, addressing critical issues around affordability, enhanced public Wi-Fi, the need for internet-enabled devices, and digital literacy training. Learn more at https://broadband.masstech.org.
This funding cut is reflected in the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s newly created Federal Funding Cuts dashboard, which shows that the Trump Administration has terminated $350 million in direct funding for Massachusetts state agencies to date.
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