Wireless prepares for ACP funding gap

With the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) looking grimmer every day, wireless operators and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are preparing for its demise and weighing their alternatives. The ACP is expected to run out of money by mid-May, leaving millions of Americans without discounted internet services. The demise of the ACP will be particularly harmful to a number of smaller MVNOs that have based their business on connecting customers to the ACP. The National Lifeline Organization (NaLA) is a non-profit industry trade group that represents many of these ACP and Lifeline-focused MVNOs and distributors. According to John Heitmann, counsel for NaLA, the association’s members are very concerned about the future of ACP and are trying to figure out how to keep their customers connected if ACP funding ends. Heitmann added that some NaLA members are planning to keep their customers connected for the entire month of May even though the ACP program will only provide partial funding in May.