Congress must reauthorize the Affordable Connectivity Program

In today’s digital world, affordable internet access is a necessity. Workers depend on the internet to keep up with their jobs, students need it to participate fully in their education, and patients, especially in rural communities, need it to access telehealth care. We rely on the internet to stay connected with loved ones, friends, and family. I helped pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which authorized $82 million in federal funding for broadband expansion across North Carolina, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which developed the Affordable Connectivity Program. Parents, educators, community stakeholders and business owners alike all tell me the same thing: The Affordable Connectivity Program has been transformative. But without action from Congress, this critically important, widely used program will expire in April 2024. Congress must act urgently to save this cost-saving program.

[Kathy Manning is the Representative for North Carolina's 6th congressional district]