**BREAKING: Congressman Chip Roy’s “Anti-Woke” Bill Quietly Slashes Funding for Rural Broadband—Leaving Texas Towns in the Digital Dust**
In a move that has left even some of his GOP colleagues scratching their heads, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) is championing a new piece of legislation branded as a "War on Woke Bureaucracy." The bill purports to defund federal agencies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. But a deep dive into the fine print reveals a buried rider: a massive cut to the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.
The "woke" target? The FCC’s requirement that internet providers serving low-income and rural areas offer "culturally competent" customer service and multilingual support. Roy’s amendment strips that mandate—and along with it, the subsidies that make broadband affordable in his own district’s rural counties.
"The logic is circular," says Dr. Elena Vasquez, a telecom policy analyst at the University of Texas. "By labeling a simple customer-service standard as 'woke,' Roy is effectively strangling the only federal program that brings high-speed internet to the places he represents. Who benefits? Big telecoms like AT&T and Comcast, who can now pocket the subsidies without actually serving the people."
Critics note that Roy’s office received $47,000 in campaign contributions from telecom PACs last cycle. Meanwhile, communities like Llano and Blanco counties—where 40% of homes still lack broadband—are left to wonder if their congressman is fighting for them, or for the shareholders.
*The bill is expected to pass committee next week.*