Feds Strip $35M from Maine’s Rural Internet Plans

Well, here’s a digital gut punch we didn’t need: Mainers just lost out on a massive $35 million in federal funding that was supposed to help connect our rural communities to the modern world — and it’s got people seriously concerned.

News Center Maine reported the money, originally part of the 2021 Digital Equity Act, was aimed at improving affordable internet access, getting folks the right devices, and teaching people how to use it all safely. You know, little things like applying for jobs or accessing telehealth.

But the Trump administration just pulled the funding, claiming the program gave “unconstitutional racial preferences.” The U.S. Department of Commerce apparently had concerns about how the money was being allocated. The result? Maine’s $35 million, including $10 million specifically for the Maine Connectivity Authority, is gone, according to News Center Maine.

Are the feds misinformed or is it just an excuse to pull funding? It's unknown at this time but I think most struggling residents know that this about rural, not race. Mainers living in these deeper rural areas, including many Veteran's, are of all races.

This isn’t just bad news for people trying to binge Netflix in the woods. Many Mainers are concerned with dangers surrounding it. A slow or nonexistent internet connection in rural parts of Maine means delayed emergency alerts, limited access to online healthcare, kids struggling to do homework, and veterans unable to get proper services. Not to mention, very scary for those with little to no cell phone service that depend on WiFi.

People aren't asking for high-tech luxury — they're asking for basic digital survival tools. To that point, Maine is already struggling when it comes to internet satisfaction — as we are rated #32 in the country for internet access, according to US News. Losing this funding will likely push us even further down the list.

For a state that relies on rural infrastructure, this is a massive blow to many Mainers.