From a source I cannot recall (but this one gives a complete story) comes this information concerning Federal grants for Digital Equity Capacity which the Trump Administration considers “totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL” because it “is a RACIST and ILLEGAL $2.5 BILLION DOLLAR giveaway”:
“In mid-May, the Trump Administration, through U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), terminated the Digital Equity Capacity Program. In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) was in the process of implementing a Digital Equity Capacity Grant under this Program. This grant would have provided more than $23.7 million to Illinois organizations across the state to equip households and residents with the skills, resources, and tools needed to use high-speed internet and fully participate in Illinois’ economy.”
Inquiring of County Administrator Peter Austin as to whether this would affect anything going on in McHenry County, Adam Letendre provided this information:
“These grants affect digital navigators and those resources needed to access the internet, phones, tablets, computers and other digital devices. It does NOT impact the BEAD program designed to run fiber to the premises. McHenry County has been focused on Connect Illinois and the BEAD program, less on digital equity capacity. That is secondary to providing all County residents with actual fiber-backed internet access. We would have started looking at Digital Equity Capacity after BEAD access was being implemented.”
