The United States Congress has failed to approve new funding for the $14-billion Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided a $30-a-month discount on the cost of internet service.
Senate Communications and Broadband Panel Chair Ray Lujan says April 2024 was the last full month of ACP funding.
“Now, each household will only receive a partial benefit if Congress fails to act. That will be the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Mind you, all of these customers across America received notices in January, as well, that this program was going away. Congress had a little bit of time to fix things.”
But partisan differences kept that from happening.
Panel member and South Dakota U.S. Senator John Thune says the FCC’s own survey shows just 22% of those on ACP had no internet before the program, arguing for a full review by FCC of its subsidy programs.
“It is imperative that the FCC conduct such an analysis so that we can make informed decisions on the future of broadband affordability programs for truly low-income Americans. And simply saying 23 million households will lose broadband if ACP does not receive new funding is not undertaking a fundamental analysis.”
Thune argues full funding at current eligibility levels would cost more than $19-billion a year.
Committee Chair Maria Cantwell has proposed $7-billion in partial new funding through year’s end by renewing FCC auction authority, but the effort is stalled, despite some bipartisan support.
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