Led by Tri-Caucus Chairs, Over 100 Members of Congress Urge Leadership to Replenish Affordable Connectivity Program’s Funding
Members advocate $6 billion be allocated to ACP, as requested by President Biden’s emergency supplemental funding proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) led 101 Members of Congress in aletter to House of Representatives and Senate leadership to urge them to include $6 billion needed to replenish the highly popular and effective Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in any government funding package, as requested by President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2024 emergency supplemental funding proposal.
“At current enrollment rates, ACP is expected to run out of funds as soon as Spring of 2024, cutting off this critical support for millions of students, rural families, low-income households, elderly citizens, and other users,”wrote the CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), CBC Chair Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04), CHC Chair Nanette Barragan (CA-44), and the other Members. “Given today’s economy with so many jobs, services, resources, and cultural opportunities only available online, that should be unthinkable.”
Created in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the ACP has helped millions of American households obtain access to high-speed internet. The $6 billion request would allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide free and discounted high-speed internet for tens of millions of low-income households through December 2024. Without this funding, the ACPwill end and enrolled households will see the cost of internet service increase.
“The impact of ACP exhaustion would be especially severe in communities of color where internet access and adoption still lag. Access to affordable and reliable internet is essential for full participation in today’s 21st century economy,” continued the Members. “Therefore, lack of affordable high-speed internet will put these communities further behind.”
Click here to read the letter in full.
Click here to read ACP enrollment data by state and congressional district.
Click here for more information about President Biden’s domestic supplemental request.
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