SHLB Urges Trump Administration to Allow Broadband Funding Programs to Move Forward
Washington, D.C. (January 28, 2025) – The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, a nonpartisan advocate for broadband access for schools, libraries, and healthcare providers, urges the Trump administration not to pause the Universal Service Fund and other broadband deployment programs that seek to connect rural and underserved communities.
The memorandum issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on January 27, 2025, directs federal agencies to temporarily halt the disbursement and obligation of funds for federal financial assistance programs “to the extent permissible under applicable law.”
The E-Rate and Rural Health Care Programs are legally mandated programs under section 254 of the Communications Act. The Broadband, Equity and Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, and other broadband programs administered by NTIA and the Department of Treasury are similarly required by acts of Congress. These initiatives are vital to closing the digital divide and ensuring that schools, libraries, and health centers can provide affordable internet access to the communities that depend on them most.
“The OMB memo is a concern and needs immediate clarification,” said John Windhausen, Executive Director of SHLB. “The memo emphasizes the Trump Administration’s priorities to make America stronger, reduce inflation, and make America healthy. The E-rate and Rural Health Care programs do just that. In particular, “Making America Healthy Again” requires investment in programs that serve the most vulnerable, which is exactly what the Rural Health Care program supports.”
“Millions of Americans in rural and remote areas rely on telehealth services for access to medical care, students in low-income communities depend on broadband to complete their education, and tribal populations often face the greatest barriers to Internet connectivity. Similarly, the BEAD, Capital Projects Fund and other broadband programs created by Congress invest in rural markets to make America stronger, enabling rural schools, libraries, and health centers to serve as lifelines for their communities.”
Windhausen continued: “These programs provide life-saving care to patients who might otherwise face significant barriers to treatment. For students in these areas, reliable internet access supports virtual classrooms, advanced coursework, and equitable educational opportunities that prepare them to competently enter the workforce. SHLB calls on the Trump Administration to clarify that these broadband funding programs required by law are exempt from the OMB memo so that these essential services are not disrupted.”
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About SHLB: The SHLB Coalition is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that supports open, affordable, high-quality broadband connections for anchor institutions and their surrounding communities. The SHLB Coalition is based in Washington, D.C. and has a diverse membership of commercial and non-commercial organizations from across the United States. To learn more, visit www.shlb.org.