Support for the Affordable Connectivity Program

Imagine if you couldn’t afford the internet access that would enable you to apply for employment, work remotely, fill out online-only benefits applications, or do telehealth appointments with doctors located several hours (and a full tank of gas) away. In 2023 in the United States of America, affordability remains one of the main barriers to households getting robust broadband service at home, including disproportionate numbers of low-income individuals and families, residents of rural and Tribal areas, and members of historically marginalized communities.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has helped more than 20 million out of 52 million eligible U.S. households get connected—and stay connected—with a high-speed home internet plan. Benefiting both Republican and Democratic-led Congressional districts equally, the ACP enables eligible households to afford digital technologies and the benefits that flow from connectivity.

Moreover, programs that offer subsidies for broadband internet—including the ACP—have been found to increase employment rates and earnings, creating more than $2,200 in annual economic benefit for low-income households. These programs also facilitate access to more affordable healthcare via telehealth, with an average savings of $93 per care visit, $120 per specialist visit, and $141 per urgent care visit. Even internet service providers benefit from these programs, as they bring new users to their networks and help existing users continue to pay for their plans.

Clearly, the ACP presents a historic opportunity to address the digital divide in the U.S., with the potential to make a lasting impact on people’s ability to access digital technology and the benefits that connectivity produces—but only if Congress renews funding for the program. Without additional funds, it projected that the ACP will become insolvent by mid-2024 at the latest.

With the ACP garnering widespread bipartisan support among voters, organizations, and members of Congress alike, stakeholders from across the political spectrum are coming together to advocate for a long-term funding solution for this program, so as to maintain the momentum the U.S. has achieved in addressing the fundamental challenge of its digital divide. Below, we’ve linked pages cataloging a wide range of press, blogs, letters, reports, and stories in support of the ACP. These pages will be updated periodically as we continue the push for additional ACP funding.