A $14 billion federal program that's helping Texans log onto the internet could soon run out of money, but some lawmakers here say the money's not actually helping people who need it.
The Affordable Connectivity Program was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021. The program provides $30 a month to help low-income households pay for internet access; households on tribal land could receive $75.
The FCC says one in seven Texas households have used the program, totaling 1.7 million families. Across the country, 23 million households have received subsidies.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed an extension of the program, but the bill has not advanced in Congress. In December, four Republicans including Senator Ted Cruz sent a letter to the chair of the FCC questioning her testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
"You asserted—without evidence and contrary to the FCC’s own data—that '25 million households' would be 'unplug[ged]…from the internet' if Congress does not provide new funding for the ACP.1 This is not true," the group wrote.
The letter was also signed by South Dakota Senator John Thune, Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Ohio Congressman Robert Latta.
The group wrote FCC surveys showed just 16% of people using the program did not already have broadband access.
"If anything, it is much more speculative to claim that 25 million households will lose broadband if the ACP does not get new funding. If you are going to dismiss concerns over the ACP’s inefficiency as unproven (even where there is ample data underlying this fact), you should hold yourself to the same standard and avoid sweeping claims of effectiveness with no basis in data," the letter reads.
In a letter in February, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel wrote, "for the overwhelming majority of ACP recipients, the monthly subsidy is not a luxury, it’s a necessity."
She said two-thirds of users had "inconsistent" or "zero connectivity" before enrolling. She wrote many people participating in a survey said they would go without internet service.
"That means going without access to employment, telemedicine, and online schoolwork. Many said they would 'take money from other bills' or 'cut other basic expenses' like food or gas. This last finding was a real gut punch," she wrote.
Without an extension, the FCC says the last month households would receive the full discount is April. A smaller discount could come in May as the program runs out of money.
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