Maine delegation urges Trump administration to unfreeze digital equity grants
May 21—Maine's congressional delegation is urging the Commerce Department to reverse its freeze of nearly $35 million in grant funding intended to expand digital access for low-income and rural Mainers.
In a letter sent to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and acting Administrator Adam Cassady Wednesday evening, the delegation noted that Maine is among the most rural states in the country, leaving its residents particularly vulnerable.
"Maine is especially affected by this decision, which will have an outsized impact on Maine families, small businesses and communities. The programs created by the grants would ensure access across Maine to the necessary technology and skills to participate in the digital economy," states the letter signed by Reps. Jared Golden, D-2nd District, and Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, and Sens. Susan Collins, a Republican, and Angus King, an independent.
The letter comes about two weeks after President Donald Trump said his administration would terminate the Digital Equity Act, which allocated more than $2 billion to help states and territories develop and implement plans to expand internet access. The act was included in the bipartisan infrastructure law, which former President Joe Biden signed in 2021.
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Trump announced his intention in a post on his Truth Social platform May 8, in which he called the act "totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL" and charged that it is "RACIST and ILLEGAL."
The next day, the administration formally notified the Maine Connectivity Authority of the terminations. The authority, established in 2021, is the state office tasked with expanding broadband access and infrastructure throughout the state.
Maine had already been approved for three different grants: $10 million to help expand internet and technology access throughout the state, including through a device donation program; $13.8 million to provide digital skills training, technical support and telehealth access; and $11 million that would offer tech and skills trainings to municipal governments, device programs and business support programs.
"This funding would serve more than 40,000 Mainers throughout the state who continue to face significant challenges in securing and maintaining internet connectivity," the delegation wrote. "This funding is essential in our state, where more than half of older residents, small businesses, veterans, low-income households, tribal communities and students are in rural areas."
Spokespeople for the Commerce Department did not return emails Wednesday night asking how its leadership responded to the letter.
Golden, Pingree, Collins and King all criticized the cut when it was first announced.
In concluding this week's letter, they called Maine's allocated funding "a smart investment."
"Terminating these funds will increase the difficulties for individuals and families to use the internet to improve their lives and fully participate in an increasingly digital world," they wrote.
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