Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, blasted the recent cancellation of a federal grant program that provided funding for broadband development, calling the cuts “cruel” and “dumb.”
Blumenthal also said of the cancellation of the program, which was part of the 2021 infrastructure bill passed under former president Joe Biden, that a day would come when “we look back at these cuts in funding and say that was probably the most mean-spirited and stupid thing that a government has ever done.”
As part of the roughly $2.75 billion grant program to “close the digital divide” by providing funding for expanding broadband access and digital skills training in “underserved communities.” Hartford-based Capital Resource Partners (CWP), a workforce development organization, received a $11.9 million digital equity grant to “expand digital access and literacy programs for underserved populations across East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, and New Britain.”
However, President Donald Trump announced via social media in May that he was ending the Digital Equity Program, calling the program unconstitutional and saying it provided “woke handouts based on race.” The next day, the US Department of Commerce sent letters to states informing them that funding for the program had been cut.
The Central Connecticut Innovative Digital Equity Alliance, led by CWP, was one of 29 organizations across the country recommended to receive a grant under the program. According to a press release from CWP, funding would have provided digital skills training for 18,000 Connecticut residents and internet access and devices for 5,000 households. The funding would also have provided 24,000 public computing sessions.
At a June 16 press conference at the East Hartford Public Library, CWP president and CEO said the grant would have “transformed lives” and that funding wasn’t just about connection but “economic opportunity, dignity, and equity.”
Speaking at the press conference, Blumenthal said the funding would have been a “lifeline” for 11.9 million residents of East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, and Hartford. He said he feels “under siege” these days, referencing several other programs, including Job Corps, that have also been eliminated or have had funding clawed back.
According to the state’s digital equity plan, 15 percent of Connecticut’s low-income households don’t have Internet connectivity, and 32 percent do not own a computer.
Blumenthal said that the burden will now be on state and local governments to provide the services that the federal government will no longer fund.
“This is not just a loss of funding – it’s a betrayal of public trust. These programs are about basic survival, finding jobs, accessing healthcare, communicating with your children’s schools. Rescinding this grant is cruel and senseless. We will not surrender. We will fight back.” Blumenthal said.
Though attorney general William Tong has announced efforts to fight the Trump administration’s cancellation of funding of various other programs, including Job Corps, the attorney general’s office has not publicly announced they are fighting the cancellation of the Digital Equity Program.
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With Starlink in existence, all these programs are show to be what they are. Poorly run, inefficient, graft.
How much has the Federal Government spent on high speed internet since the first massive funding in 2009?
How effective has it been?
With a 36 Trillion debt, we can no longer afford feel good programs that didn’t actually help.
Crybabies. This is just another form of wealth transfer. Thank you DJT!
Where will the funds be redirected to if not coming to CT? Will Congress direct the funds directly to the federal deficit?