DOGE revokes $23 million grant intended to help Ohioans without internet access

Yahoo

2 days ago

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Despite ongoing efforts from state leaders, approximately one million Ohioans lack access to high-speed internet. DOGE canceled $23 million intended to help them.
In November 2024, Ohio was awarded a $23,291,992 federal grant to increase digital equity. None of the funds had been paid to the state when DOGE canceled the grant on May 9. According to a federal announcement — which is no longer publicly available on federal websites — Ohio intended to use the funds to create a statewide device internship, offer digital skills education for incarcerated Ohioans, and create a Digital Inclusion Grant Program.
Department of Development spokesperson Mason Waldvogel said Ohio was no longer moving forward with these programs as a result of the grant cancellation, although BroadbandOhio will continue to expand access through other programs. The funds were allocated under former President Joe Biden but had not yet been paid, so there were plans for the money, but the state does not have to pay anything back to the government.
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Broadband refers to high-speed internet, or the ability to access the internet without interruptions or outages. In Ohio, high-speed internet access is defined as 100 mbps download and 20 mbps upload speed. That speed covers a household of two to four people using the internet casually, or one to two people if they use the internet for streaming, telehealth or work from home.
According to state data, one in five Ohioans reported they do not believe they have sufficient device access to meet household needs. BroadbandOhio said this is largely due to a lack of availability or barriers in digital literacy and affordability. The state agency said some parts of Ohio have little or no access due to a lack of digital infrastructure, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for adequate connectivity.
In Franklin County, 26% of households are considered digitally underserved by the state. This only increases in rural areas; for example, 59% of Licking County households qualify as underserved.
The state grants were going to give special emphasis – but not exclusive access – to low-income households, elderly people, veterans, people with disabilities, people with language barriers, racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents and justice-involved people. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance found 77.8% of Ohioans would have qualified under at least one of those groups.
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Ohio had already accepted grant applications by the time the Department of Commerce alerted the state it no longer had the funding, and had hoped to get federal approval for select organizations by mid-June.
Broadband equity has been a priority for Gov. Mike DeWine, who said high-speed internet has become a 'critical necessity' rather than a luxury, used from schooling to healthcare. However, DeWine's office declined to comment on the grant cancellation. Sen. Jon Husted worked to expand broadband during his time as lieutenant governor, but his office also did not have comment on this grant. See previous coverage of Husted's broadband advocacy in the video player above.
The funds had been part of the Digital Equity Act, which passed in 2021 with bipartisan support. The act was cosponsored by then-Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican who initially backed Trump's claim that he won the 2020 election and voted against impeaching the former president in 2021. Portman's office said he could not comment on the grant cancellation at this time.
Although funding was canceled in May, President Donald Trump publicly spoke against the act in March. Trump took to Truth Social and announced his intention to end the Digital Equity Act, calling it 'RACIST' and an 'ILLEGAL $2.5 BILLION DOLLAR giveaway,' although the total funding was $2.75 billion.
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Before receiving the federal funding, Ohio had a pilot program for the grants. Through these grants, rural Ohioans gained access to tech support, Columbus residents could purchase donated and refurbished quality devices at lower costs, and seniors received tech help. Despite having $23 million fewer dollars to support efforts, Waldvogel said Ohio still intends to improve digital access.
'BroadbandOhio remains fully committed to its mission of expanding access to high-speed internet across Ohio — and our work to close the digital divide continues through other initiatives and partnerships aimed at connecting unserved and underserved communities,' Waldvogel said.
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