Meredith Moran
County officials, members of Congress team up to support extension of Affordable Connectivity Program
Several members of Congress teamed up with county officials to show their support for extending the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides internet access to more than 23 million households across the country. Reps Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Marc Molinaro (R-NY), and Norma Torres (D-CA), and county officials advocated for the extension of the program. Congress must come together to pass the “bipartisan, common-sense and urgent” extension, or else millions of Americans will be left behind in the digital divide, Rep Torres urged. Counties are “absolutely unified” in support of extending
Counties urge Congress to extend Affordable Connectivity Program
Elected officials at the local and federal level are urging Congress to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers discounted broadband service to low-income households, providing access to healthcare, education and employment. Lake County (IL) Board Member Jennifer Clark, who is also chair of the county’s special committee on broadband, said the program is “absolutely vital” to bridging the digital divide. Clark said that because Congress has not yet extended the funding, Lake County has seen a stagnation in people signing up for the benefits. “A lot of peop
ARPA Funds Helped Washtenaw County (MI) Build, Track Broadband
As it gears up to meet a goal of full broadband connectivity by 2025, Washtenaw County (MI) has launched a digital map that tracks its progress, thanks to American Rescue Plan Act dollars and general county funds.