Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — According to a public notice released by the American Samoa Department of Commerce Broadband Coordination Opportunities, Redevelopment & Deployment (BCORD), effective May 9, 2025, the Digital Equity Act has officially been terminated by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the administration of President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. The funding was to help build American Samoa’s digital literacy, resilience, economic development.

BCORD states that as a result, all remaining funding for the American Samoa Digital Equity programs will be returned, and they must immediately stop all related activities, including application reviews and project planning.

The public notice notes that the Trump Administration’s decision was communicated to “broadband offices of states and territories by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the US Department of Commerce.”

The Digital Equity Act is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021, under the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative. It was touted as the largest investment in broadband deployment ever ($65 billion) and the first time the federal government has assigned funding for digital inclusion at the state and local level.

The $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, a congressionally authorized program, was designed to close the digital divide in every state and territory by establishing grants to support broadband access and digital skills training for underserved communities.

American Samoa received $150,000 for planning and was awarded an additional $2.1 million to implement digital equity activities, according to NTIA. This funding was to support efforts like developing a Territory Digital Equity Plan, data collection, stakeholder engagement, and workforce development.

A NTIA press release, dated May 16, 2022, stated that “whether it’s work, school, or healthcare – so many fundamental pieces of our lives are now online,” according to [former] Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “That’s why President Biden has prioritized funding to connect everyone across the islands of American Samoa to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service as part of his Investing in America agenda. My thanks to Governor Lemanu for his dedication to delivering Internet for All.”

"Having access to quality and affordable Internet is important, but being able to leverage that access and resource is arguably even more important,” said then- Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga. “This Digital Equity planning grant will help us refine our strategies to ensure our people have the skills and resources to fully participate in our global community and economy."

The local Commerce Department has scheduled a Digital Equity Closeout Virtual Meeting (Google Meet), today, Friday, May 16, 2025, at 10AM: Registration Link: htps:/forms. geld/HXYy7EgP6GZUwug9

For more information about the BCORD Office visit our website at broadband.as.gov. Or contact the BCORD Office by email at bcord@doc.as.gov.