Cutting race considerations from the Digital Equity Act undermines its aim

Internet & Telecommunications Technology Policy & Regulation

互联网和电信技术政策与法规

This piece was corrected on Aug.

这篇文章已于八月更正。

26, 2026, to clarify that the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) did not agree to the removal of racial and ethnic minority covered populations from the Digital Equity Act.

2026 年 2 月 26 日，澄清国家数字包容联盟 (NDIA) 不同意将种族和族裔覆盖人群从《数字公平法案》中删除。

The United States is a global technology leader, yet millions of Americans lack the internet access, devices, or skills to benefit from its technological capabilities or participate fully in the digital economy.

美国是全球技术领先者，但数百万美国人缺乏互联网接入、设备或技能，无法从其技术能力中受益或充分参与数字经济。

Recognizing this divide in 2021, Congress passed the largest federal investment in broadband in U.S. history, encompassing both the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and the Digital Equity Act.

国会在 2021 年认识到了这一分歧，通过了美国历史上最大的宽带联邦投资，其中包括宽带、公平、接入和部署 (BEAD) 计划和数字公平法案。

Together, these measures aim to expand broadband access and infrastructure while ensuring that people have the skills and resources needed to adopt and use these technologies.

这些措施共同旨在扩大宽带接入和基础设施，同时确保人们拥有采用和使用这些技术所需的技能和资源。

But the two have come under increased scrutiny during the second Trump administration, which in May 2025 moved to terminate the Digital Equity Act’s grant programs, arguing that the programs’ considerations of certain historically “ underserved ” ethnic and racial groups were unconstitutional .

但在特朗普第二届政府期间，两者受到了更严格的审查，特朗普于 2025 年 5 月采取行动终止《数字股权法案》的拨款计划，认为这些计划对某些历史上“服务不足”的民族和种族群体的考虑是违宪的。

As a result, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) filed a lawsuit seeking to restore the program.

结果，国家数字包容联盟（NDIA）提起诉讼，寻求恢复该计划。

During litigation, government attorneys argued that the program should only be allowed to continue if the act’s race-related provisions were removed from the statute.

在诉讼过程中，政府律师辩称，只有在该法案中与种族相关的条款从法规中删除的情况下，该计划才应被允许继续进行。

And on July 15, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia agreed , claiming that the statute’s racial provisions were unconstitutional and should be severed from the act as a whole.

7月15日，美国哥伦比亚特区地方法院的一名法官对此表示同意，声称该法规的种族条款违宪，应从整体法案中剔除。

But race cannot and should not be ignored in digital access conversations, and the courts’ striking of racial provisions undermines the act’s recognition of key barriers to broadband access and reasons for digital exclusion among racial and ethnic groups.

但在数字接入对话中，种族问题不能也不应该被忽视，法院对种族条款的否定破坏了该法案对宽带接入关键障碍以及种族和民族群体中数字排斥原因的认识。

The Digital Equity Act , which complements the $42.45 billion BEAD Program, established a $2.75 billion investment to address barriers to broadband adoption.

《数字股权法案》是对 424.5 亿美元 BEAD 计划的补充，规定投资 27.5 亿美元来解决宽带采用的障碍。

Regulated by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the program established major grant programs helping states, local governments, Tribal entities, and community organizations expand digital literacy, improve access to devices, and support digital navigator programs for populations facing persistent barriers to connectivity.

该计划由国家电信和信息管理局 (NTIA) 监管，设立了重大拨款计划，帮助州、地方政府、部落实体和社区组织扩大数字素养，改善设备的使用，并为面临持续连接障碍的人群提供数字导航计划。

The act specifically established the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, which provides formula funding to states based on various factors such as broadband availability, demographics, and covered populations, and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program , which supports organizations implementing community-based digital inclusion initiatives.

该法案专门设立了国家数字股权能力补助计划，根据宽带可用性、人口统计和覆盖人口等各种因素向各州提供公式资助，以及数字股权竞争性补助计划，支持实施基于社区的数字包容性举措的组织。

Despite receiving bipartisan support upon its passage, the act has become the subject of significant legal and political debate.

尽管该法案通过后得到了两党的支持，但它已成为重大法律和政治辩论的主题。

In May 2025, the Trump administration terminated the act’s grant programs , arguing that the identification of certain racial and ethnic groups as “covered populations” violated constitutional principles and amounted to unlawful racial preferences by making funding decisions based on race.

2025年5月，特朗普政府终止了该法案的拨款计划，认为将某些种族和族裔群体认定为“涵盖人口”违反了宪法原则，并根据种族做出资助决定，构成非法的种族偏好。

This push is in line with the Trump administration’s persistent attempts to eliminate language and policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

这一举措符合特朗普政府一贯试图消除与多样性、公平和包容性相关的语言和政策的努力。

The NDIA’s original filing in October 2025 sought to restore the terminated funds under the act’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.

NDIA 于 2025 年 10 月提交的原始文件寻求恢复根据该法案的数字股权竞争性拨款计划终止的资金。

The organization argued that the administration lacks the authority to unilaterally terminate a congressionally authorized program that supports “ shovel-ready ” digital inclusion initiatives that would serve thousands of individuals across the country.

该组织辩称，政府无权单方面终止国会授权的计划，该计划支持“准备就绪”的数字包容性计划，该计划将为全国数千人提供服务。

The lawsuit seeks to compel the administration to resume implementation of the program.

该诉讼旨在迫使政府恢复实施该计划。

On June 24, attorneys representing the Department of Commerce argued that, rather than invalidating the Digital Equity Act in its entirety, the statutory provisions identifying certain racial and ethnic groups as covered populations should be severed from the law if they are found unconstitutional.

6 月 24 日，代表商务部的律师辩称，如果认定某些种族和族裔群体为覆盖人群的法定条款被发现违宪，则应将其从法律中剔除，而不是使《数字股权法案》全部无效。

Under this interpretation, the remainder of the act, including many of its grant programs and digital inclusion initiatives, could continue as long as they do not explicitly consider race.

根据这种解释，该法案的其余部分，包括许多拨款计划和数字包容性举措，只要不明确考虑种族问题，就可以继续下去。

On July 15, 2026, John D.

2026 年 7 月 15 日，约翰·D.

Bates, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, agreed with the Department of Commerce’s interpretation, writing, “…

美国哥伦比亚特区地方法院法官贝茨同意商务部的解释，他写道：“......

the government contends that the Competitive Grant Program is itself unconstitutional because the enabling statute authorizes funds to be allocated based on the race or ethnic status of the people served by grant awardees.

政府认为，竞争性拨款计划本身是违宪的，因为授权法规授权根据拨款获得者所服务的人的种族或民族地位来分配资金。

On that issue, the government is correct.” Judge Bates contends that the grant program can continue if the Act’s racial and ethnic provisions are removed.

在这个问题上，政府是正确的。”贝茨法官认为，如果该法案的种族和民族条款被删除，拨款计划可以继续下去。

In a joint status report filed on Aug.

在 8 月提交的联合状态报告中

3, the Department of Commerce agreed to reinstate the Digital Equity Act without racial provisions, aiming to reopen funding applications for December 2026.

1 月 3 日，商务部同意恢复不带种族条款的《数字股权法案》，旨在于 2026 年 12 月重新开放资助申请。

Public discussions on broadband policy often focus on geography .

关于宽带政策的公众讨论通常集中在地理上。

For years, policymakers have concentrated on expanding broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved rural areas where internet access is either unavailable or unreliable.

多年来，政策制定者一直致力于将宽带基础设施扩展到互联网接入不可用或不可靠的无服务和服务不足的农村地区。

However, the digital divide was never solely an infrastructure problem, and broadband availability alone does not guarantee adoption or meaningful use.

然而，数字鸿沟从来不仅仅是一个基础设施问题，宽带可用性本身并不能保证采用或有意义的使用。

Even in communities where broadband service is available, many households remain disconnected because of affordability issues, limited access to devices, language and accessibility barriers, disabilities, or insufficient digital skills.

即使在提供宽带服务的社区，许多家庭仍然由于负担能力问题、设备访问受限、语言和无障碍障碍、残​​疾或数字技能不足而无法连接。

These challenges can be found in rural, urban, and suburban areas across the country.

这些挑战遍布全国的农村、城市和郊区。

Further, barriers to digital access are not distributed evenly.

此外，数字访问的障碍分布并不均匀。

They overlay longstanding disproportionate investment in marginalized communities and broader social and economic inequities that have historically impacted communities of color, Tribal communities, and low-income households.

它们叠加了对边缘化社区的长期不成比例的投资以及更广泛的社会和经济不平等，这些不平等历来影响着有色人种社区、部落社区和低收入家庭。

For example, research has consistently found that racial disparities in broadband adoption persist even when accounting for income.

例如，研究一致发现，即使考虑到收入，宽带采用方面的种族差异仍然存在。

A 2016 study found that among households earning less than $20,000 annually, 58% of white households had home internet access compared to just 51% of Hispanic households and 50% of Black households.

2016 年的一项研究发现，在年收入低于 20,000 美元的家庭中，58% 的白人家庭拥有家庭互联网接入，而拉美裔家庭和黑人家庭的这一比例仅为 51% 和 50%。

Lower-income households and communities of color were also substantially more likely to rely exclusively on mobile broadband rather than fixed home internet, which limits the quality and reliability of their connectivity.

低收入家庭和有色人种社区也更有可能完全依赖移动宽带而不是固定家庭互联网，这限制了其连接的质量和可靠性。

Advocates and researchers have documented this type of “ digital redlining, ” in which internet providers have invested less in lower-income and predominantly marginalized neighborhoods, while offering slower service, fewer choices, or less favorable pricing than they do in wealthier communities.

倡导者和研究人员已经记录了这种类型的“数字红线”，即互联网提供商在低收入和主要边缘化社区的投资较少，同时提供的服务速度较慢，选择较少，或者价格比富裕社区更差。

The FCC recognized these disparities, citing that poorer, less-white neighborhoods often received lower broadband investment and worse internet offerings than higher-income, predominantly white communities—realities that have been called for dismissal by the current administration.

美国联邦通信委员会认识到了这些差异，并指出，与收入较高、白人为主的社区相比，较贫穷、白人较少的社区往往获得较低的宽带投资和较差的互联网服务——现任政府已呼吁驳回这一现实。

The Digital Equity Act did embrace race as a factor for digital exclusion, not because race itself determines digital access, but because it is closely intertwined with many other structural factors that determine economic inclusion.

《数字公平法案》确实将种族视为数字排斥的一个因素，这并不是因为种族本身决定了数字访问，而是因为它与决定经济包容性的许多其他结构性因素密切相关。

Decades of racial segregation , unequal educational opportunities , disparities in household wealth , and historic patterns of public and private investmen t have contributed to persistent differences in broadband adoption among racial and ethnic groups.

数十年的种族隔离、不平等的教育机会、家庭财富的差异以及公共和私人投资的历史模式导致了种族和族裔群体之间宽带采用率的持续差异。

The act’s “covered populations” definition also includes a range of impacted populations beyond racial groups, including older adults, incarcerated individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, rural residents, individuals who face a language barrier, and those living in households with incomes at or below 150% of the poverty level.

该法案的“覆盖人群”定义还包括种族群体以外的一系列受影响人群，包括老年人、被监禁者、退伍军人、残疾人、农村居民、面临语言障碍的个人以及生活在贫困线 150% 或以下家庭收入的人。

Acknowledging and addressing how these communities experience barriers to connectivity was the purpose of the act, and dismissing the ability to address their lived experiences might diminish the importance of their circumstances.

该法案的目的是承认并解决这些社区如何经历连接障碍，而忽视解决他们的生活经历的能力可能会降低他们所处环境的重要性。

More importantly, the act sought to tailor resources where they were most needed rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.

更重要的是，该法案力求在最需要的地方定制资源，而不是采取一刀切的方法。

Without addressing the social, economic, and historical factors that shape broadband adoption, the U.S. risks investing billions of dollars in networks, hardware, and training that might not work to fully close the digital divide.

如果不解决影响宽带采用的社会、经济和历史因素，美国就有可能在网络、硬件和培训上投资数十亿美元，而这可能无法完全缩小数字鸿沟。

The consequences of weakening digital inclusion efforts also extend far beyond broadband adoption.

数字包容性努力减弱的后果也远远超出了宽带采用的范围。

Patients increasingly rely on broadband for scheduling appointments, accessing telehealth services, reviewing medical records, and communicating with medical providers.

患者越来越依赖宽带来安排预约、访问远程医疗服务、查看医疗记录以及与医疗服务提供者沟通。

Job seekers use it to search and apply for employment, complete workforce training, and earn professional certification, while students depend on it to complete coursework and access educational resources.

求职者使用它来寻找和申请就业、完成劳动力培训并获得专业认证，而学生则依靠它来完成课程并获取教育资源。

Individuals without reliable internet access or the digital skills to navigate these systems face barriers that can directly affect their economic security, health outcomes, and overall well-being.

没有可靠的互联网接入或驾驭这些系统的数字技能的个人面临着可能直接影响其经济安全、健康结果和整体福祉的障碍。

As artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies become increasingly embedded in these sectors, existing disparities will likely deepen.

随着人工智能（AI）和其他数字技术越来越多地融入这些领域，现有的差距可能会加深。

Without sustained investments in broadband adoption and digital literacy, many communities will remain excluded from the essential services and opportunities that increasingly define full participation in modern society.

如果没有对宽带采用和数字素养的持续投资，许多社区将仍然被排除在日益定义充分参与现代社会的基本服务和机会之外。

The constitutional questions surrounding the Digital Equity Act will ultimately be resolved by the courts.

围绕《数字股权法案》的宪法问题最终将由法院解决。

The broader policy concern is whether a digital inclusion strategy that does not account for race can achieve the same outcomes as one that recognizes race as one of several factors contributing to digital exclusion.

更广泛的政策担忧是，不考虑种族的数字包容战略是否能够取得与承认种族是导致数字排斥的几个因素之一的战略相同的结果。

Some members of Congress have joined the NDIA to fight the Trump administration’s proposed modifications to the act.

一些国会议员已加入 NDIA，反对特朗普政府对该法案的修改提议。

On June 30, Reps.

6 月 30 日，众议员。

Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) and Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) questioned NTIA administrator Arielle Roth about the Commerce Department’s push to sever race as a “covered population,” though Roth committed to enacting the provisions if they are maintained.

Nanette Barragán（加利福尼亚州民主党人）和 Jennifer McClellan（弗吉尼亚州民主党人）向 NTIA 行政长官 Arielle Roth 询问商务部推动将种族作为“覆盖人口”的做法，尽管 Roth 承诺如果这些条款得以维持，将会颁布。

By eliminating race as a considered factor in barriers to technology access, the U.S. courts are leaning toward an enforced “ colorblind Constitution, ” which fundamentally limits the government’s ability to monitor, remedy, and explicitly prevent racial inequality, with profound implications for civil rights and liberty protections.

通过消除种族作为技术获取障碍的考虑因素，美国法院倾向于强制执行“色盲宪法”，这从根本上限制了政府监控、补救和明确防止种族不平等的能力，对公民权利和自由保护产生深远影响。

Ultimately, the act represents competing visions of digital equity and the federal government’s role in achieving it.

最终，该法案代表了数字公平的相互竞争的愿景以及联邦政府在实现数字公平方面的作用。

As the United States seeks to strengthen its technological leadership, closing the digital divide will require policies that recognize and respond to the full range of barriers, including racial and ethnic inequalities.

随着美国寻求加强其技术领先地位，缩小数字鸿沟需要制定政策，承认并应对各种障碍，包括种族和民族不平等。