Today, the bipartisan, bicameral Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 was introduced to ensure that low-income families can continue to connect to the internet. The following statement may be attributed to Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Executive Director Adrianne B. Furniss:

"The digital divide holds the entire nation back. Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband is essential to full participation in modern life in the United States—and is an important part of our social safety net, allowing us all to contribute to building our nation.

"Recognizing that broadband connectivity is a necessity, Congress and the Federal Communications Commission created, first, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program during the COVID-19 pandemic and then the Affordable Connectivity Program (known as ACP) so that some of the most vulnerable in our communities can stay connected. ACP is a lifeline for over 22 million people including low-income households, Veterans, people in rural areas, and students. ACP connects them to healthcare, to new employment opportunities, to school, to family, and to friends. 

"Without additional funding, over 22 million people, our neighbors, are at risk of losing this vital connection to opportunity and prosperity. The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society calls for swift passage of the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 so we can continue to close the digital divide and work towards truly universal broadband."

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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