Rural Americans wait after judge delivers mixed ruling on digital equity dollars

By: Sarah Jane Tribble, KFF Health News

Outlets: Arkansas Advocate

Published: September 14, 2026

Words: 1,295

Last Updated: 4 days, 7 hours ago

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A federal judge in July gave digital equity advocates a partial victory against President Donald Trump, stopping his attempt to unilaterally kill a multibillion-dollar grant program Congress created.

But U.S. District Judge John D. Bates, in a 35-page opinion, also agreed with the administration that it was unconstitutional for the government to use race or ethnicity as the basis to award money under a program created to expand internet skills and access.

“It was …

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