National Urban League Calls for Restoration of Digital Equity Act Programs During Digital Inclusion Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 9. 2025) — As the nation marks Digital Inclusion Week, the National Urban League is calling on U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Arielle Roth to reinstate the Digital Equity Act (DEA) grant programs and protect state flexibility to use BEAD non-deployment funds for workforce development, digital skills training, telehealth, and education as Congress originally intended.

“Digital inclusion is civil rights work, economic development work, and democracy work,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “Infrastructure is only step one. True digital equity means ensuring that people, especially those in historically underserved communities, have the skills, tools, and support they need to connect, learn, and thrive.”

The National Urban League’s Lewis Latimer Plan for Digital Equity and Inclusion laid out a national roadmap for closing the digital divide by expanding broadband access, affordability, and adoption. Through programs such as the Urban Tech Jobs Program, the League has helped thousands of Americans gain digital literacy and transition into technology-driven careers — demonstrating that investments in digital skills directly strengthen economic mobility and local communities.

“The abrupt cancellation and mischaracterization of the Digital Equity Act programs ignored both the bipartisan intent of Congress and the ongoing needs of millions of Americans still left behind,” Morial said. “As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies transform our economy, we must ensure every household has the opportunity and ability to participate fully in the digital future.”

The National Urban League’s full letter to Secretary Lutnick and Assistant Secretary Roth is available here.