US to Reinstate Broadband Grant Program Following Court Ruling

The US government announced it will reinstate a broadband grant program in compliance with a court ruling regarding the Digital Equity Act, which was enacted by Congress in 2021. The government plans to begin accepting applications for grants in December. The court ruling stated that the government cannot allocate funds based on race or ethnicity, but grants can still be awarded based on factors such as income, age, and disability. The Digital Equity Act allocated $2.75 billion for three grant programs aimed at improving broadband access. The Biden administration initiated planning grants in 2022 and began taking applications for the remaining funds in 2024. The previous administration had announced plans to end these grant programs, citing concerns over the act's constitutionality.