If you’re a family struggling to make ends meet, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise when your internet bill arrives this month.
The Affordable Connectivity Program, an FCC initiative started in 2021 to help less well-off Americans get increasingly crucial internet access, is set to expire after bills aimed at securing more money for the program couldn’t get passed by Congress.
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Over 23 million households have been enrolled in the program at one point or another, according to the FCC. Eligibility is given to households whose income falls below 200% of the poverty line or households that contain a member receiving other government benefits like Medicaid, SNAP or WIC.
“It is regrettable that the Federal Communications Commission must bring to a close the most successful broadband affordability program in our Nation’s history,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel wrote in a letter Thursday to Ohio Republican Congressman Dave Joyce, who heads the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.
While bills to add funding to the program have been unsuccessful thus far, Roswenworcel would still like to see it continue.
“It is not too late to save the Nation’s largest broadband affordability program,” Rosenworcel said in a statement Friday. “The ACP was too impactful and has too much support from both parties on Capitol Hill and across the country to just move on and say it was nice while it lasted. Bipartisan efforts to provide more funding for the ACP are ongoing, and the FCC is ready to resume the program as soon as any additional funding is provided.”
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