States Could Be Key in Tackling Digital Equity Act Freeze: Benton's Sohn
The only unconstitutional aspect of the Digital Equity Act is the president trying to end a program authorized by a bipartisan Congress, which also appropriated its funding, said Gigi Sohn, a Benton Institute for Broadband & Society senior fellow, during…
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a National Digital Inclusion Alliance conference Wednesday, according to prepared remarks. But don't expect Congress to push back on President Donald Trump's funding freeze, she said, adding that states are in the best position to defend DEA and pick up the slack. She said multiple state broadband offices are using grant funding to make subgrants to digital equity and inclusion organizations. State attorneys general "can and should" sue the Trump administration to make DEA funds available, she said, and multiple states are considering doing so. Digital equity issues should be a priority for AG offices already busy suing the Trump administration over numerous other issues, she said. She also called for digital equity organizations to educate state AGs about DEA programs and advocate for them to lead or join a lawsuit.