Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is pressing to reverse canceled grants that helped underserved communities across Georgia access digital internet devices.
Sen. Ossoff recently joined Congressman David Scott (GA-13), Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05), Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) in pressing the U.S. Department of Commerce to reverse the cancelation of the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, both of which were funded through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
The grants have helped establish programs for Georgians to find jobs, access telehealth care, and more.
“This decision ignores congressional intent, undermines Georgia communities where the digital divide remains a significant barrier to opportunity, and violates the public trust,” Sen. Ossoff and the group wrote. “Seniors, Veterans, low-income families, Tribal and rural communities, people with disabilities, and other digitally underserved groups all qualify for grants. In Georgia, this encompasses 86.7% of our constituents. We urge the Department move to immediately reinstate both the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program and the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and comply with both the letter and spirit of the IIJA.”
Sen. Ossoff continues working to deliver reliable internet and broadband access for communities across Georgia.
In October 2024, Sen. Ossoff helped deliver $1.3 billion to for broadband internet expansion across the state through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Last year, Sen. Ossoff delivered $5,533,275 in Federal funds through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s ReConnect Program to Pembroke Advanced Communications to expand high-speed internet access for families, businesses, and farms in rural Georgia.
Click here to read the group’s inquiry.
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