Nearly 60 million Americans could lose their internet plans or pay hundreds more a year to stay connected once the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program runs out of funding at the end of April. This could impact people’s ability to job hunt, work, do schoolwork, connect to public services and more.
The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 a month for internet service to eligible low-income households , or up to $75 a month for qualifying residents on tribal lands. To renew the ACP, the government must approve $6 million in spending, but it was not included in the last-minute budget deal just passed to avoid a government shutdown.
The Federal Communications Commission has begun to sunset the program by stopping new signups and providing warnings that the benefits are almost over. The loss of funding for ACP will impact military families, rural residents and older Americans the most.
“Because of political gameplay, about 60 million Americans will have to make hard choices between paying for the internet or paying for food, rent, and other utilities, widening the digital divide in this country,” said Gigi Sohn, a former top FCC official. “It’s embarrassing that a popular, bipartisan program with support from nearly half of Congress will end because of politics, not policy.”
