Bipartisan Letter Urges House and Senate Leadership to Preserve the Affordable Connectivity Program

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) led 158 of her colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging them to work to preserve the Affordable Connectivity Program, which is set to begin running out of funds in April 2024. “We write today regarding the urgent need to preserve the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)," says the letter. "As you know, the Federal Communications Commission has stated that without Congressional action, remaining ACP funds are insufficient to provide the full monthly benefit to enrollees beyond April 2024. We request that Congressional Leadership take action in the immediate future to prevent a lapse in funding that would result in a wind-down of the program. At a time when broadband accessibility is more important than ever, we cannot afford to lose the progress we have made in our efforts to bridge the digital divide. Allowing the ACP to lapse for any length of time will result in a loss of trust in the program and the federal government among consumers who have come to rely on the monthly benefit and must be avoided at all costs. A potential wind-down followed by an attempt to re-enroll customers may prove too costly to providers, disincentivizing future participation in the program. We must prioritize keeping the program alive for the duration of this year to allow Congress the opportunity to reach an agreement without undoing the progress made to close the digital divide.”

Read the full letter here.