Fighting for digital access: Representative David Scott and other Georgia Congress members demand the Trump administration to reverse termination of digital equity grants to stem the digital divide

To call the current political landscape a challenging setting is an understatement. Given the recent passing of one of a number of bills which can result in adverse impacts to many while satisfying the whims of a few (click HERE for our article from May 2025 regarding the bill which is far from beautiful), there are additional actions from the current administration in which comparing them to putting kerosene on a fire is an understatement.

In a time of technology being commonplace, it is not necessarily the case for too many, including those in Georgia. Thanks to the State Digital Equity Capacity Grants and Digital Equity Competitive Grants as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the law allows for $2.75 billion to help underserved communities access affordable high-speed internet. With a focus on closing the digital divide for veterans, seniors, rural communities, low-income families, incarcerated individuals, those living with disabilities and/or special needs, and other audiences, the goal is to help improve access, including a $9.9 million earmark for Clayton County's (GA) Department of Information Technology.

However, despite the program being funded and approved by Congress, the Trump administration's wanton approach towards programs and services with a focus on related access for the general community leads to a halting of said programming in May and as a result, funds which have legally been approved are currently being terminated illegally.

Representative David Scott is among those calling out such activity and urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Adam Cassidy (the acting Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration [NITA]) to reverse the actions of the current administration to do the following:

• Restoration of funding already legally awarded.

• Resumption of the application review process for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.

• Recognition of the multiple benefits of said programs, which include (but are not limited to) job readiness training, access to online healthcare, digital literacy programs, and educational resources.

Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, along with Congressmen and women Nikema Williams, Hank Johnson, Sanford Bishop, Jr., and Lucy McBath are among those in support of the representative's efforts (click HERE to read the full correspondence).

At a time where public access to resources is readily under attack, there are members of Congress and other entities who are making efforts to speak to the matters at hand and hopefully redirect such efforts into something more productive.

Notes: The photo is a file photo via Congressman Scott's website (click HERE for more details).