Why Congress Must Save the Affordable Connectivity Program

The future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is now at risk. Civil rights organizations have partnered with Congress, the Biden administration, internet service providers, and other stakeholders to spread the word about the ACP so that those who need it most are informed and can get connected. But the future of the ACP is not guaranteed. Congress needs to step up again and ensure adequate funding to continue the program. As more than 160 organizations have told policymakers, without action from Congress in 2023, millions of households could immediately lose service — and access to their daily, hybrid way of life. The loss of the ACP would also reduce the efficacy of Congress’ groundbreaking $42 billion investment in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. A recent study concluded that the ACP reduces the size of the subsidy needed to incentivize broadband deployment in rural areas by 25 percent. Simply put: The ACP makes BEAD program dollars go farther. On a bipartisan basis, Congress recognized — despite decades of digital discrimination — that we must all be connected if we want America to endure and prosper. But without adequate and sustained funding for the ACP, Congress will not be able to keep everyone online and meet its goal of universal deployment and adoption.

[Frank Nolan is the senior campaigns and programs associate at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.]