The Affordable Connectivity Program expires next week. Did you take action?

Contributed Article

The ACP is expiring at the end of April. The final week is here.

By:  Valerie M. Sargent, Broadband Communities

In February we let you know the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) – a federal program offering eligible households a monthly internet bill discount and a one-time discount off purchase of a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet – would be running out of funds in April. We urged you to contact your Congressional representatives in our article titled “ACP funding is running out. The time to act is now.”

This is impacting people at a very real level. According to the FCC, there are over 23 million eligible households who have been currently enrolled and receiving that monthly discount, which will be expiring at the end of this month. CNET interviewed a small-business owner from Hernando, Mississippi.

“It’s been the difference between choosing to have a roof over my head, whether to eat, or whether to pay for the internet, which has things like virtual appointments with my psychiatrist … It basically helps me to keep from having to choose what bills I’m going to pay,” said Kenneth Sigler.

We were making such progress as a country with ensuring that more people had access to the internet, but now that is in danger.

What is being done at the federal level?

Here’s the deal – I don’t ask you to do anything that I don’t do myself. I followed our advice, and I wrote to my state representatives and governor here in California, urging them to take action to help find a solution to fund the ACP. Although I did not request a reply from anyone, I was pleased that I did hear back from Congresswoman Katie Porter and Senator Alex Padilla. While I knew some bipartisan efforts were being made, I was glad to hear how they were supporting those initiatives. Here is what they shared with me.

Congresswoman Katie Porter is taking the following actions to address the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program funds:

1. Supporting legislation: She has asked to cosponsor the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024, which aims to provide $7 billion in funding for the FCC’s ACP. This support would be crucial for keeping the program operational throughout the remainder of 2024.
2. Advocating for funding inclusion: Congresswoman Porter has joined a letter urging Congressional leadership to include the necessary $6 billion funding to replenish the ACP in any government funding package. This effort is in line with President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2024 emergency supplemental funding proposal.
3. Engaging with constituents and inviting participation: She encourages constituents to stay informed and engaged by following her on social media platforms, which helps keep constituents informed about actions and advocacy efforts regarding the ACP, and she welcomes constituents to attend upcoming virtual town halls to discuss important issues to voice concerns and stay involved in the legislative process.

Here are the actions that Senator Alex Padilla is taking to address the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program funds:

1. Supporting the emergency funding request: Senator Padilla has also joined his colleagues in sending a letter to congressional leadership in support of President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2024 emergency supplemental funding request of $6 billion for the ACP. This action aims to secure additional funding to continue providing subsidies to American families for critical broadband services.
2. Supporting legislation: He supports the “Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act” (S.3565), introduced by Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), which seeks to preserve the ACP by providing it with $7 billion in funding. Although Senator Padilla is not a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the bill is awaiting consideration by this committee, and he is maintaining a proactive stance on supporting legislative measures to sustain the ACP.
3. Advocating for broadband access: Senator Padilla emphasizes the importance of expanding broadband access, especially for remote work and online education. He highlighted the significant enrollment numbers of over two million households in California as part of the huge total number of households impacted nationwide, and showcased his commitment to ensuring that the ACP continues to provide valuable support to households in need of broadband assistance.
4. Engaging with constituents: Senator Padilla encourages constituents to stay informed and engaged by contacting his office with any questions or comments, visiting his website, following him on social media platforms, and signing up for his email newsletter to receive regular updates on his work and initiatives like efforts related to the ACP.

These actions demonstrate Congresswoman Porter’s and Senator Padilla’s proactive approaches to addressing the expiration of funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, and their dedication to bridging the digital divide. I was encouraged to see the active measures they were taking to ensure access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet for all Americans. Senator Padilla reassured me when he said, “I strongly share your desire to see the program continue to provide valuable support for those in need of assistance accessing broadband.”

Cross your fingers and keep contacting your reps!

Where are we today? The search for renewal continues, but we are seeing some momentum. Representative Yvette Clark has started a discharge petition. If 218 signatures are secured, it will force a House vote. The bill now has 228 cosponsors, which includes bipartisan support. Although there are a few more than needed, it would be helpful to encourage anyone who is not listed to sign the discharge petition. You can check to see if your Representative is participating in the H.R. 6929 Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024.

You’ve seen my experience. What’s yours? For us to be good citizens, we must be involved in the process. We can’t expect things to get done if we are not communicating our desires to those who are our voice in Congress. So, be a nerd like me … sit at home under a blanket on a rainy Saturday night, order some food, pour a glass of wine, and go online to submit communication to your Congressional representatives to them know what your expectations are. It’s the only way we can get our needs met as a nation.

For those who are impacted by the end of the ACP, they can contact their internet company to inquire if they have a lower cost plan and/or a low-income program available. They can contact Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for questions about the wind-down, and consumers can call the ACP Support Center at 877-384-2575.

If status about the program is needed, visit AffordableConnectivity.gov and find out additional information about the ACP wind down from the FCC’s Fact Sheet.

Valerie M. Sargent is a multifamily speaker, trainer and executive consultant, and is the multifamily news correspondent for Broadband Communities. Contact her at http://www.valeriemsargent.com. For more information, visit http://www.bbcmag.com.

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