In this urgent episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Angela Siefer and Amy Huffman of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) to unpack a stunning announcement: President Trump has declared the Digital Equity Act “unconstitutional” and vowed to cancel it.

Angela and Amy explain what the Digital Equity Act really does, who it serves, and why this sudden political attack puts millions of Americans—and the country’s digital future—at risk.

They offer insights into what’s still unclear, how local organizations are reacting, and what’s at stake if this critical program is dismantled.

NDIA's response to President Trump's statement can be found here.

This show is 33 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

Catch the latest episode of the Connect This! Show, with co-hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) joined by regular guests Kim McKinley (TAK Broadband) and Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) to talk about major changes coming to the BEAD program and a grab-bag of other topics, including:

• Amazon drone delivery pauses in College Station, Texas
• A new report shows the Affordable Connectivity Program saved the federal government more than it cost
• The coming transformation of the BEAD program, and the likely minor and major changes to come: including removing the preference for fiber, eliminating planning requirements pertaining to climate change and service addenda like data caps, and much more.
• The announcement of Starlink Residential Lite
• Takeaways from the new OpenVault broadband usage report
• If some recent fiber provider news is revealing of the first provider closures

Join us live on March 7th at 2pm ET, or listen afterwards wherever you get your podcasts.

Email us at broadband@communitynets.org with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.