On July 15, a federal judge issued a mixed ruling in National Digital Inclusion Alliance v. Trump, the case we supported with an amicus brief joined by 22 organizations.
The good news: the court agreed that the Administration must implement the Digital Equity Act. The government has already committed to the court that it would restore the DEA’s Competitive Grant Program. NTIA must act swiftly to do just that.
The bad news: the court concluded that Congress’s recognition of the connectivity needs of racial and ethnic minorities amounts to an unconstitutional race-based classification. This is wrong, and it is one among a string of terrible court decisions rolling back equity and fairness protections. The ruling sets a troubling precedent even as the program itself survives.
But much of the law remains. Funding can still flow to programs serving low-income families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, rural communities, people with language barriers, and incarcerated people. And NDIA’s case against the illegal cancellation of the program can move ahead.
We believe every person is made in the image of God and deserves fair access to the tools of modern life. The Digital Equity Act was Congress’s answer to the gap between broadband infrastructure and the people who need help using it. That answer should not be delayed any longer.
Cheryl A. Leanza, UCC Media Justice’s policy advisor, said: “Thank you so much to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance for bringing this case and to the Lawyers Committee for representing them. Stalwart champions like these will save our democracy and people who need the law’s protection, and digital skills, the most. I strongly urge Administrator Roth and the team at NTIA to quickly get the Digital Equity Act’s competitive grant funding flowing.”