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Today marks the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program, a landmark piece of US government legislation that aimed to make it easier for people to afford an Internet connection in their homes. The end of the program marks a big change, as the ending of benefits will affect millions of Americans who may need them most.
What is the affordable connectivity program?
In 2021, the US Congress approved the $1.2 trillion plan Employment and Infrastructure Investment Lawalso know as the bipartisan infrastructure agreement. It was a huge, ambitious piece of legislation that aimed to shore up a variety of struggling industries, including transportation networks, energy systems and utilities. The ACP was part of that agreement. It set aside $14.2 billion to finance loans that could help low-income households afford high-speed Internet. If a family’s household income was less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline per year, they were eligible for a $30 monthly credit on their broadband bill. People living on tribal lands were eligible for up to $75.
Today all that is disappearing.
It is certainly not an ideal situation, considering that Internet access is a necessity in modern society, especially in the post-Covid era, when remote work has become normalized. Not being able to connect can contribute to a widening digital divide, where people without internet access can be left behind socially and economically. Americans who have come to rely on the discount will see their Internet bills rise and potentially be forced to balance the rising cost with paying for food, rent and other essential needs. Not to mention, many ACP beneficiaries had come to depend on getting internet for free; initial urging from the White House led to many Internet providers offering plans with minimum download speeds of 100 Mbps for $30 per month. Customers who applied their ACP benefit to these plans obtained free Internet access. Starting tomorrow they will have to start paying it.
Why does the ACP expire?
The problem is financing. As with any federal funding, there is a limit to how long a program can last without being renewed by Congress. The Biden administration has made several pleas to lawmakers to save the program, including one last October requesting a Investment of 6 billion dollars to continue the program, among other internal expenses. Despite this and a series of requests from advocacy groups and organizations like Federal Communications CommissionThese attempts were unsuccessful and the program has officially expired.
Who is affected?
According to the White House, more than 23 million households have benefited from the program since it went into effect. This is a staggering number – around one in six households – who now have to find another way to raise funds to stay connected.
The end of the ACP is not exactly a surprise to the organizations that support it. Anticipating a future lack of funding, ACP stopped accepting applications for the program in February 2024. According to the US Federal Communications Commission, networks are required to alert users that the program has come to an end, so affected households should have received notices about the termination.
What happens next?
Unfortunately, any of the families that have been receiving the ACP benefit will have to start paying full price for their Internet connections, as long as they can afford it. If a household’s income is less than 200 percent of federal poverty line, or if the household claims other government benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, or Social Security, there is a way to get a similar, albeit much smaller, reduction in Internet costs. The Universal Service Administration Company offers a service called Life lineYou can pay up to $9.25 per month for a connection (and up to $34.25 per month for anyone living on qualifying tribal lands).
in a press conference yesterdayWhite House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated the Biden administration’s stance on pressuring large telecommunications companies to continue to abide by ACP rules despite a lack of funding, saying: “We announce “Earlier this month we are encouraging providers to take steps to keep their Consumers connected at this crucial time through low-cost and no-cost plans. However, it is unclear whether any providers will be willing to follow the plan.” game.
If you are affected, your Internet provider should have already sent you two notifications about your service. If that is not the case, you should contact your provider. Ultimately, affected users will have to decide whether to continue their service at the new price. The FCC has a information page on the liquidation of the ACP, where it also encourages file complaints.
