Dear Secretary Lutnick and Acting Administrator Cassady,
On behalf of the 156 individuals leading 140 organizations serving communities from 39 states, we, the undersigned, urge you to reinstate the Digital Equity Act (DEA) Programs that were cancelled on May 9, 2025. We are the organizations that would have carried out the work funded by the Digital Equity Act Program, created and authorized by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Our organizations were recommended for a Competitive Grant Award, were planned sub-grantees of Competitive Grant Awardees, would have been sub-recipients of State Capacity Grant Programs, or support local digital inclusion programs and organizations like Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) that carry out the vital digital inclusion work.
In the 21st century, access to technology is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. However, according to the US Census’ American Community Survey, 31 million American households still face significant barriers to accessing affordable high-speed internet, affordable devices, and the digital skills necessary to participate in the digital economy.
We, the undersigned organizations, have a proven track record of helping members of our communities overcome the obstacles that keep them offline. If the funding is reinstated, our shovel-ready projects will help disconnected people in rural, suburban, urban, and Tribal communities in all 56 US States and Territories access telehealth services, strengthen small businesses, increase government efficiency, learn new AI skills, and advance our communities’ economic competitiveness.
Without these critical funds, American residents and businesses are left behind in crucial areas:
- Economic Opportunity: Fewer small businesses and entrepreneurs will be able to compete with international businesses because they won’t be able to reach customers or leverage e-commerce platforms. Fewer workers will create resumes, apply for jobs, take online classes to learn coding or new and emerging technologies, and therefore contribute to the U.S. economy.
- Education: More students will have to do school work in parking lots, fall behind their peers, and have fewer opportunities to learn AI and other emerging technologies.
- Healthcare: Nearly 4.5 million Americans living in rural communities won’t be able to get the virtual healthcare they need from their doctors.
- Online Safety: According to the FTC, in 2024, US consumers lost $12.5 billion to fraud. Without much-needed cybersecurity training and AI literacy, many seniors, veterans, and rural families are more vulnerable to internet-based scams and fraud.
We request that you reverse the cancellation and reinstate the full $2.75 billion allocated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for all states and territories via the Capacity Grant Program and the individual projects supported by the Competitive Grant Program. Reinstating these funds is a common-sense, fiscally smart, pro-growth decision that ensures our workforce and businesses remain competitive. The funds are vital to driving positive change and creating a future where everyone has access to the opportunities the digital world oers. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact Amy Human, policy director, at amy@digitalinclusion.org.
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Angela Siefer | Executive Director | National Digital Inclusion Alliance | Columbus | OH |
| Vaughn Villaverde, MPH | Director of Advocacy | AACI | San Jose | CA |
| Christine Diggs | Chief Technology
Ocer |
Albemarle County Public Schools | Charlottesvill e | VA |
| Danny Rojas | Executive Director | All Star Code | New York | NY |
| Joy Thompson | Executive Director | Alliance for Navajo
Broadband |
Navajo Nation | AZ,
NM, UT |
| Lisa Varga | Associate Executive Director | American Library
Association |
Chicago | IL |
| Wanda Davis | Executive Director | ASC3 (Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center) | Cleveland | OH |
| Shaletha Mitchell | Board President | Ashbury Senior
Computer Community Center |
Cleveland | OH |
| Kathryn Carroll | Disability and Program Coordinator | Association on Aging in New York | Albany | NY |
| Jared Bodine | Executive Director | AZ StRUT | Tempe | AZ |
| Lo Smith | Executive Director | Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition | Baltimore | MD |
| Alison Aldridge | Director of
Development |
Bay Area Council | San
Francisco |
CA |
| Dick Mulvihill | Executive Director | Beaver Island
Association |
Beaver Island | MI |
| Noel Hidalgo | Executive Director | BetaNYC, a partner
project of the Fund for the City of New York |
New York City | NY |
| Kimmell Proctor | CEO | Beyond Literacy | Philadelphia | PA |
| Allie Rehm Kashaka | Director | Bridge The Digital Divide | Los Angeles | CA |
| Anthony Chun | Head of Digital Access | Bridging Tech Charitable Fund | San Mateo | CA |
| Melina O’Grady | Director of Leadership Transition | Cambridge Public Access Corporation | Cambridge | MA |
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Jenny Marr | Executive Director | Capital Area District
Libraries |
Lansing | MI |
| Don Taylor | CEO | Catholic Charities of
Santa Clara County |
San Jose | CA |
| Laurie Millman | Executive Director | Center for New
Americans |
Northampton | MA |
| Donald Michael | Digital Inclusion
Specialist |
Central Piedmont
Community College |
Charlotte | NC |
| Eric Roe | County Commissioner | Chester County | West Chester | PA |
| Marian Moskowitz | Chester County
Commissioner |
Chester County | West Chester | PA |
| Jim Mercante | Co-Founder | Chester County Digital Alliance | Kennett
Square |
PA |
| Joan Holliday | Co-Chair | Chester County Digital Alliance | Kennett
Square |
PA |
| Nicole LaChapelle | Mayor | City of Easthampton | Easthampton | MA |
| John Macon | Recreation Supervisor | City of Milpitas | Milpitas | CA |
| Keith Wilson | Mayor | City of Portland | Portland | OR |
| Sarah Zarate | Director, City Manager’s Oce of
Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations |
City of San Jose | San Jose | CA |
| Kathleen Cumiskey | Professor & Director, CUNY PIT Lab | City University of New York | New York | NY |
| Christopher Soukup | Chief Executive Ocer | Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. | Austin | TX |
| Curtis Dean | Executive Director | Community Broadband Action Network | Indianola | IA |
| Jon Willow | Chair, Board of
Directors |
Community Broadband Action Network | Indianola | IA |
| Natalie Washburn | President | Community Concepts Finance Corporation | Paris | ME |
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Mia Purcell | Vice President of
Economic and Impact |
Community Concepts Finance Corporation | Lewiston | ME |
| Marie Jobling | Co-Executive Director | Community Living
Campaign |
San
Francisco |
CA |
| Bryan Harley | Executive Director | Community Media
Access Collaborative (CMAC) |
Fresno | CA |
| Heather Siavelis | CFO | Community Service
Programs of West Alabama Inc. |
Tuscaloosa | AL |
| Monique Tate | Co-Director | Community Tech New York (CTNY) | New York City | NY |
| Dave Sevick | Executive Director | Computer Reach | Pittsburgh | PA |
| Dylan Zajac | Founder & Executive Director | Computers For People Inc. | Hoboken | NJ |
| Jordana Barton-Garcia | Program Director, RGV | Connect Humanity | San Antonio | TX |
| Josh Maxwell | Chair, County
Commissioners |
County of Chester | West Chester | PA |
| Mark Revis | Broadband Project
Manager |
County of Napa | Napa | CA |
| Candice W. McGarry | County
Administrator/Clerk, Board of Supervisors |
County of Nelson | Lovingston | VA |
| Chad Johnston | CEO | CreaTV San José | San José | CA |
| Mikhail Sundust | Executive Director | Digital Connect | Gila River
Indian Community |
|
| Laura B. Fogle | Board Chair and
Founder |
Digital Durham | Durham | NC |
| Katherine VanHenley | Program Manager | Digital Equity Learning Network | Seattle | WA |
| Andrew Coy | President & CEO | Digital Harbor Foundation | Baltimore | MD |
| Kami Griths | Founding Executive Director | digitalLIFT | San
Francisco |
CA |
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Scot Henley | Executive Director | Digitunity | North
Conway |
NH |
| Pat Millen | President | E2D, Inc. | Davidson | NC |
| Sarah Kline Morgan | Library Director | East Hartford Public
Library |
East Hartford | CT |
| Landon Hill | Chief Program Ocer | East Oakland Youth
Development Center |
Oakland | CA |
| Jerey Mastroianni | Executive Director | Easthampton Media Inc | Easthampton | MA |
| Gina Gomez | Executive Director | El Centro Hispano
Arkansas |
Jonesboro | AR |
| Quincy Bloxom, DSW, SIFI | President | Erase The Divide LLC | Burlington | NJ |
| John Chrastka | Executive Director | Everylibrary Institute | Berwyn | IL |
| Norma E. Fernandez | CEO | Everyone On | Washington | DC |
| Nora Reissig | Vice President of
Development & Programs |
Exodus Transitional
Community |
New York City | NY |
| Michelle de la Uz | Executive Director | Fifth Avenue Committee | Brooklyn | NY |
| Steve Good | President and CEO | Five Keys Schools and Programs | Oakland | CA |
| J. Michelle Shiplet | Executive Director | Five Point Center | Robbinsville | NC |
| Audren
Morris-Sandoval |
Founder/Executive
Director |
FLORECER | Yuma | AZ |
| Juan M. Muro | Executive Director | Free Geek | Portland | OR |
| Kevin M Brown | Resource Manager | G.R.E.A.T | Robbinsville | NC |
| Cheryl DeBerry | Citizen | Garrett County, Maryland | Oakland | MD |
| Laura Walling | Vice President of
Government Aairs |
Goodwill Industries
International |
Rockville | MD |
| Tershea Rice | VP of Operations | Greater Baltimore Urban League | Baltimore | MD |
| Don Eversley | Executive Director | Greater Hunts Point
Economic Development Corp. |
Bronx, New
York City |
NY |
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Belinda Ray | Director of Strategic Partnerships | Greater Portland Council of Governments | Portland | ME |
| Josh Stoltz | Executive Director | Grow Benzie | Benzonia | MI |
| Nancy E. Smith | CEO | GrowSmart Maine | Augusta | ME |
| Samia Zuber | Executive Director | Hack the Hood | Oakland | CA |
| Doris Amelia Thomas | Executive Producer | HBCU International
Innovation Media |
Atlanta | GA |
| Latorshia Spencer | CEO | Healing By Kay | Peachland | NC |
| Brandon Munda | Federal Policy Analyst | Hispanic Federation | New York | NY |
| Ron Gonzales | President & CEO | Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley | San Jose | CA |
| Diego Augusto
Rodriguez Zamora |
Caretaker – Volunteer Coordinator | Homies Empowerment | Oakland (East Oakland) | CA |
| Jazmin Preciado | Leadership Team | Homies Empowerment | Oakland | CA |
| Joshua Butler | Senior Policy &
Advocacy Manager |
Human-I-T | Los
Angeles/Detr oit |
CA/MI |
| W Lazone Grays | President/CEO | IBSA, Inc. | Topeka | KS |
| DeAnne Cuellar | Associate Director for Outreach | Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) | Minneapolis | MN |
| Grace Stanley | Grants Manager | International Rescue Committee | New York | NY |
| Daniel Berlin | Policy Director | International Rescue Committee (IRC) | New York | NY |
| Sulagna Ghosh | Founder | Joint Family | Cambridge | MA |
| Cyndy Yu-Robinson | Executive Director | Kramden Institute | Durham | NC |
| Sara Nichols | Energy and Economic Development Program Manager | Land of Sky Regional
Council |
Asheville | NC |
| Maria Matos | President & CEO | Latin American
Community Center |
Wilmington | DE |
| Taylor Stuckert | Interim CEO | Lead for America | Wichita | KS |
| Debbie Dininno | Chief Program Ocer | LET’S GO Boys and Girls, dba LET’S GO | Baltimore | MD |
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Steven Corbató | Executive Director | Link Oregon | Portland | OR |
| Dr. Kimberly Leslie
Patton |
TA Coordinator | LPA/ for The Dannon
Project |
Birmingham | AL |
| Shirley Wright | Executive Director | Maine Adult Education Association | Dover
Foxcroft |
ME |
| Connie Baker | Chief Operations
Ocer |
Meals on Wheels of
Southwest OH and Northern KY |
Cincinnati | OH |
| Brandon Forester | Lead Organizer | MediaJustice | Oakland | CA |
| Stephen Smith | Executive Director | Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. | Mohawk | NY |
| Tahra M. Goraya, MA, MPA | President & CEO | Monterey Bay Economic Partnership | Marina | CA |
| Robert E. Branson | President and CEO | Multicultural Media,
Telecom and Internet Council |
Washington | DC |
| Franklin Shook | Director | Nantahala Regional
Library |
Murphy | NC |
| Susan Corbett | Executive Director | National Digital Equity Center | Wiscasset | ME |
| Jenna Wilson | FOC Manager | Northwestern Ohio
Community Action Commission |
Bryan | OH |
| Jamie Huber | Director of Community Services | Northwestern Ohio
Community Action Commission |
Defiance | OH |
| Demetrius Goodwin | Executive Director | NPower | Brooklyn | NY |
| Amy Sample Ward | CEO | NTEN | Portland | OR |
| Alexandria Medina | Chief Executive Ocer | Oakland Public Education Fund | Oakland | CA |
| Jamie Turbak | Library Director | Oakland Public Library | Oakland | CA |
| Will Holman | CEO | Open Works, Inc. | Baltimore | MD |
| Nili Yosha | Executive Director | Outside the Frame | Portland | OR |
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Kathy Schwarting | CEO | Palmetto Care
Connections |
Bamberg | SC |
| Camisha Beverly | Managing Director | Per Scholas | Bronx | NY |
| Alex Wermer-Colan | Executive Director | Philly Community
Wireless |
Philadelphia | PA |
| Tasha Henneman | Chief of Policy &
Government Aairs |
PRC | San
Francisco |
CA |
| Amy R. Sheon, PhD, MPH | President & Digital
Health Engagement & Innovation Consultant |
Public Health Innovators, LLC | Cleveland | OH |
| Rita Mancera | Executive Director | Puente de la Costa Sur | Pescadero | CA |
| Maria Armstrong | Co-founder | Raising Expectations Inc. | Atlanta | GA |
| Jesse R. Bradley IV | Program
Director/Founder/Digit al Navigator |
Right Here, Right Now Project | Pittsboro | NC |
| Dawn Coppin | CEO | San Jose Public Library Foundation | San Jose | CA |
| Anne-Marie Despain | Director of Library
Services |
San Mateo County
Libraries |
San Mateo
County |
CA |
| Michael Matos | Education Technology Director | scaleLIT | Chicago | IL |
| Renuka Sharma | Senior Manager | scaleLIT | Chicago | IL |
| Karla Suomala | Co-director | SF Tech Council | San
Francisco |
CA |
| Elizabeth Paine | Digital Navigator | Shower to the People | Alamosa | CO |
| Eric Howard | Executive Director | Sno-Isle Libraries | Marysville | WA |
| Aneliza Del Pinal | Chief Executive Ocer | Sourcewise | Santa Clara | CA |
| Dr. Aaron D McCall | Managing Director | South Central Alabama Broadband Cooperative District | Hayneville | AL |
| Tessa Killian | Executive Director | Southeastern NY Library Resources Council | Highland | NY |
| K. John Egelhaaf | Executive Director | Southwest Michigan
Planning Commission |
Benton
Harbor |
MI |
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Jamal Abdi | Jamal Abdi | Southwest Somali
Community |
Portland | OR |
| Rachelle Chong | Principal | Strategic Consulting of Rachelle Chong | San
Francisco |
CA |
| Ulises Zatarain | Executive Director | Tech Exchange | Oakland | CA |
| Kate Rivera | Executive Director | Technology Learning Collaborative | Philadelphia | PA |
| Dr. Kerri Pruitt | Executive Director | The Dannon Project | Birmingham | AL |
| Alvin J. Garrett | Executive Vice
President |
The Dannon Project | Birmingham | AL |
| Nichole Battle | Fiscal Operations
Manager |
The Dannon Project | Birmingham | AL |
| Kris Leslie | IT Director | The Dannon Project | Birmingham | AL |
| Dr. Kimberly Patton | T/TAS Director,
Community Programs |
The Dannon Project | Birmingham | AL |
| Danielle Hudson | Board Vice President | The Dannon Project | Birmingham | AL |
| Dr. Wayne Green | Digital Capacity
Director |
The Dannon Project | Birmingham | AL |
| Dr. Patricia Wilson | HR Director | The Dannon Project | Birmingham | AL |
| Dwight Pugh | Mayor, CAI location | The Dannon Project | Coeeville | AL |
| Anya Dickson-Arguello | Digital Equity Program Manager / Coalition Facilitator | The Denver Digital Equity Coalition | Denver | CO |
| Margaret Käufer | President & Chief
Visionary Ocer |
The STEM Alliance | Mamaroneck | NY |
| Rafael Velazquez | Vice President of
Community Programs |
The Unity Council | Oakland | CA |
| John Schapman | Executive Director | Thriving Together NCW | Wenatchee | WA |
| Dwight Pugh | Mayor | Town of Coeeville
Alabama |
Coeeville | AL |
| Moira Weir | President & CEO | United Way of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati | OH |
| Dr. Emma Viera | Executive Director | Unlimited Potential | Phoenix | AZ |
| Name | Title | Organization | City | State |
| Christine Hallquist | Executive Director | Vermont Community
Broadband Board |
Montpelier | VT |
| Bao Trieu | President & CEO | Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation (VIVO) | San Jose | CA |
| Susan Malone | Executive Director | Wide Angle Youth Media | Baltimore | MD |
| Jacob Gorges | Executive Director | Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. | Madison | WI |
| Jennifer Ferre | Executive Director | WNC Communities | Asheville | NC |
| Candelaria Mendoza | Executive Director | Yakima Valley Libraries | Yakima | WA |