An Update on Affordable Connectivity Program Enrollment

 You’re reading the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s Weekly Digest, a recap of the biggest (or most overlooked) broadband stories of the week. The digest is delivered via e-mail each Friday.

Round-Up for the Week of August 1-5, 2022

On August 2, the White House released fact sheets highlighting how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is impacting all 50 states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Tribal communities. The law invests $65 billion to provide affordable, high-speed internet to every American—including $14.2 billion in the Affordable Connectivity Program which cuts internet bills by up to $30 per month, or $75 for households on Tribal lands, and provides a one-time $100 discount for a connected device. Generally, households are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if their annual income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.(1)  The White House fact sheets offer a snapshot of the challenges each area in the U.S. faces in achieving universal broadband. 

Alabama

Nearly a third of Alabamians do not have an internet subscription. Experts estimate that as many as 860,000 households in Alabama are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program. About 246,600 households in Alabama have enrolled in the program.

Alaska

Nearly 28% of Alaskans do not have an internet subscription. About 10,000 households of the estimated 89,000 households that are eligible in Alaska are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

Arizona

Nearly 22% of Arizonans do not have an internet subscription. About 284,000 households of the estimated 1,075,000 households that are eligible in Arizona are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

Arkansas

Nearly 35% of Arkansans do not have an internet subscription. About 118,000 households of the estimated 581,000 households that are eligible in Arkansas are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

California

Nearly 18% of Californians do not have an internet subscription. About 1.6 million households of the estimated 5.6 million households that are eligible in California are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Colorado

Nearly 16% of Coloradans do not have an internet subscription. About 150,000 households of the estimated 758,000 households that are eligible in Colorado are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Connecticut

Nearly 17% of people in Connecticut do not have an internet subscription. About 117,000 households of the estimated 490,000 households that are eligible in Connecticut are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

District of Columbia

Nearly 20% of people in Washington (DC) do not have an internet subscription. About 40,000 households of the estimated 102,000 households that are eligible in DC are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Delaware

One in five Delawareans do not have an internet subscription. About 27,000 households of the estimated 136,000 households that are eligible in Delaware are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Florida

Twenty-two percent of people in Florida do not have an internet subscription. About 917,000 households of the estimated 3,283,000 households that are eligible in Florida are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Georgia

Nearly 23% of Georgians do not have an internet subscription.  About 463,400 households of the estimated 1,571,000 households that are eligible in Georgia are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Hawaii

Nearly 17% of Hawaiians do not have an internet subscription.  About 28,000 households of the estimated 163,000 households that are eligible in Hawaii are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Idaho

Nearly 21% of people in Idaho do not have an internet subscription.  About 23,200 households of the estimated 260,000 households that are eligible in Idaho are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Illinois

Nearly 21% of Illinoisans do not have an internet subscription.  About 391,700 households of the estimated 1,853,000 households that are eligible in Illinois are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Indiana

About one in four Indianans do not have an internet subscription. Over 249,000 households of the estimated 1 million households that are eligible in Indiana are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Iowa

Nearly one in four Iowans do not have an internet subscription. About 65,900 households of the estimated 482,000 households that are eligible in Iowa are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Kansas

Nearly 23% of Kansans do not have an internet subscription. About 66,200 households of the estimated 412,000 households that are eligible in Kansas are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. In addition to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, Kansas has committed $83.5 million of its Capital Projects Fund support to connect 21,300 homes and businesses by building high-speed internet service in areas where there is a demonstrated need. The broadband networks deployed with this funding will be designed to provide internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps symmetrical to households and businesses upon project completion—and operators of these networks will participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Kentucky

About 27% of Kentuckians do not have an internet subscription. About 264,700 households of the estimated 813,000 households that are eligible in Kentucky are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Louisiana

Nearly 30% of Louisianans do not have an internet subscription. About 296,300 households of the estimated 869,000 households that are eligible in Louisiana are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Louisiana is aiming to close the digital divide in the state by 2029. Getting there could cost over $1 billion.  Capital Projects Fund support will fuel the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO), Louisiana’s multiphase broadband infrastructure competitive grant program. Louisiana estimates that investments made using the Capital Projects Fund will serve 25% of locations still lacking high-speed internet access in the state. Capital Projects Fund-supported networks will participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Maine

An estimated one in five Maine residents do not have an internet subscription. About 46,000 households of the estimated 221,000 households that are eligible in Maine are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. In addition to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, Maine is using $110 million from the Capital Projects Fund to ensure three goals: 1) make effective, accessible connectivity universally available in the state; 2) secure, affordable, reliable, competitive, and sustainable forward-looking infrastructure to meet future needs; and 3) ensure all residents, businesses and institutions in Maine are able to take full advantage of the economic, health, educational, and other opportunities available through connectivity services. All of Maine's Capital Projects Fund-supported networks will participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Maryland

Nearly 18% of people in Maryland do not have an internet subscription. About 159,100 households of the estimated 727,000 households that are eligible in Maryland are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Maryland is also using $95 million in Capital Projects Fund support to connect 16,667 homes and businesses through the Network Infrastructure Grant Program. The operators of Maryland networks that receive Capital Projects Fund support will be responsible for contributing matching funds, providing internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps symmetrical to households and businesses upon project completion, and participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Massachusetts

Nearly 16% of people in Massachusetts do not have an internet subscription. About 206,000 households of the estimated 982,000 households that are eligible in Massachusetts are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Michigan

Nearly 23% of Michiganders do not have an internet subscription. About 445,200 households of the estimated 1,605,000 households that are eligible in Michigan are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

Minnesota

Nearly 19% of Minnesotans do not have an internet subscription. About 125,500 households of the estimated 860,000 households that are eligible in Minnesota are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Minnesota's goal is that, no later than 2022, all Minnesota homes and businesses have access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum download speeds of at least 25 Mbps and minimum upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps. And, no later than 2026, all Minnesota homes and businesses will have access to at least one provider of broadband with download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 20 Mbps. Minnesota’s Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program is the state's financial tool to assist in addressing the primary cause for the lack of broadband in unserved areas: high costs and lower population densities produced business plans that were not sustainable and thus broadband installations were not feasible. Border-to-Border is a competitive matching capital grant program to address the financial gap. The Capital Projects Fund is giving Border-to-Border a $68.4 million boost. Networks built with Capital Projects Funds will participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Mississippi

Nearly 39% of Mississippi residents do not have an internet subscription. About 166,400 households of the estimated 572,000 households that are eligible in Mississippi are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Missouri

Nearly 25% of Missourians do not have an internet subscription. About 207,700 households of the estimated 956,000 households that are eligible in Missouri are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Montana

Nearly 24% of Montanans do not have an internet subscription. About 25,000 households of the estimated 176,000 households that are eligible in Montana are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Nebraska

Nearly 20% of Cornhuskers do not have an internet subscription. About 47,000 households of the estimated 260,000 households that are eligible in Nebraska are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

New Hampshire

Nearly 15% of New Hampshirites do not have an internet subscription.  About 21,000 households of the estimated 163,000 households that are eligible in New Hampshire are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Moreover, only 30% of New Hampshire has access to fiber-optic service and only about 7 percent have access to 1-gig service. The state has created the Broadband Contract Program, overseen by the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, to offer broadband service providers a financial incentive to bring service to unserved and underserved addresses in the state—areas/addresses where it may be financially detrimental for providers to attempt to expand. The state will use $50 million of its Capital Projects Fund allotment for broadband deployment, helping to bring service to half of the locations still lacking high-speed internet access in the state. Networks built with Capital Projects Funds will participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

New Jersey

Nearly 17% of New Jerseyans do not have an internet subscription. About 161,500 households of the estimated 1.1 million households that are eligible in New Jersey are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

New Mexico

Nearly 1 in 3 New Mexicans do not have an internet subscription. About 126,000 households of the estimated 397,000 households that are eligible in New Mexico are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

New York

Nearly 21% of New Yorkers do not have an internet subscription. About 923,000 households of the estimated 3 million households that are eligible in New York are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

North Carolina

Nearly 23% of North Carolinians do not have an internet subscription. About 512,000 households of the estimated 1,650,000 households that are eligible in North Carolina are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

North Dakota

Nearly 21% of North Dakotans do not have an internet subscription. About 7,400 households of the estimated 104,000 households that are eligible in North Dakota are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Ohio

Nearly 21% of Ohioans do not have an internet subscription. About 673,000 households of the estimated 1,883,000 households that are eligible in Ohio are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Oklahoma

Nearly 30% of Oklahomans do not have an internet subscription. About 186,000 households of the estimated 662,000 households that are eligible in Oklahoma are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Large portions of Oklahoma are Tribal Lands. In those areas, the Affordable Connectivity Program provides up to $75/month to make broadband bills more affordable for low-income Tribal households.

Oregon

Nearly 18% of Oregonians do not have an internet subscription. About 121,000 households of the estimated 671,000 households that are eligible in Oregon are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Pennsylvania

Nearly 21% of Pennsylvanians do not have an internet subscription. About 458,200 households of the estimated 1,957,000 households that are eligible in Pennsylvania are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. A June-July 2021 survey of 2,500 Philadelphia shows that—in the aftermath of the public, private, and philanthropic sectors coming together—there has been substantial progress in closing digital gaps in the city. In 2019, American Community Survey (ACS) data showed that 70% of Philadelphia households had wireline broadband at home, a figure that grew to 84% according to the “Connecting Philadelphia” report. That is a sizable change. The Pew Research Center, for instance, shows that, nationally, broadband adoption grew from 73% to 77% over a similar timeframe. What accounts for the fast growth rate in the City of Brotherly Love? The survey shows that some of this above-average growth is due to people taking advantage of free or discount internet offers.

Rhode Island

Nearly 19% of Rhode Islanders do not have an internet subscription. About 37,300 households of the estimated 164,000 households that are eligible in Rhode Island are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

South Carolina

Nearly 27% of South Carolinians do not have an internet subscription. About 238,700 households of the estimated 827,000 households that are eligible in South Carolina are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

South Dakota

Nearly 22% of South Dakotans do not have an internet subscription. About 11,000 households of the estimated 123,000 households that are eligible in South Dakota are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Tennessee

Nearly 26% of Tennesseans do not have an internet subscription. About 268,900 households of the estimated 1,131,000 households that are eligible in Tennessee are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Texas

Nearly one in four Texans do not have an internet subscription. About 953,000 households of the estimated 3,927,000 households that are eligible in Texas are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Utah

Nearly 16% of Utahns do not have an internet subscription. About 38,970 households of the estimated 320,000 households that are eligible in Utah are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Vermont

Nearly 21% of Vermonters do not have an internet subscription. About 14,000 households of the estimated 109,000 households that are eligible in Vermont are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Virginia

Nearly 21% of Virginians do not have an internet subscription. About 247,800 households of the estimated 1,006,000 households that are eligible in Virginia are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Virginia's goal is universal broadband coverage before the end of the decade. With Capital Projects Fund support the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development will oversee a competitive grantmaking program, the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI). Virginia estimates that investments made using the Capital Projects Fund will serve 28% of locations still lacking high-speed internet access in the Commonwealth. Networks built with this support will participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Washington

Nearly 15% of Washingtonians do not have an internet subscription. About 205,000 households of the estimated 1,046,000 households that are eligible in Washington are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

West Virginia

Nearly 26% of West Virginians do not have an internet subscription. About 72,800 households of the estimated 356,000 households that are eligible in West Virginia are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. In October 2021, Governor Jim Justice (R-WV) announced a billion-dollar strategy to bring broadband access to 200,000 homes and businesses in West Virginia. West Virginia's plan got a $136 million boost with support from the Capital Projects Fund. The federal funding will help connect 10% of locations still lacking high-speed internet access in the state. The networks built with Capital Projects Fund support will participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Wisconsin

Nearly 22% of Wisconsinites do not have an internet subscription. About 230,200 households of the estimated 849,000 households that are eligible in Wisconsin are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

Wyoming

Nearly 22% of Wyomingites do not have an internet subscription. About 9,400 households of the estimated 79,000 households that are eligible in Wyoming are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

Tribal Lands

Over one-third of Indian Country lacks broadband infrastructure that delivers even minimally sufficient speeds. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $2 billion for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program at the Department of Commerce to bring high-speed internet coverage to more Tribal communities—and the Affordable Connectivity Program cuts internet bills by up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Over 185,000 households on Tribal lands are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is continuing to review the more than 280 applications received during the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program application window, which closed on Sept. 1, 2021. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program will announce awards on a rolling basis as they go through NTIA's review process. (see awardees)

American Samoa

About 2,000 households in American Samoa are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. American Samoa will receive a minimum allocation of at least $25 million to help ensure high-speed internet coverage across the territory.

Guam

771 households in Guam are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Guam will receive a minimum allocation of at least $25 million to help ensure high-speed internet coverage across the territory.

Northern Mariana Islands

Over 3,300 households in the Northern Mariana Islands are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Northern Mariana will receive a minimum allocation of at least $25 million to help ensure high-speed internet coverage across the islands.

Puerto Rico

About 505,000 households in Puerto Rico are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Puerto Rico will receive a minimum allocation of at least $100 million to help ensure high-speed internet coverage across the region.

US Virgin Islands

Over 1,600 households in the U.S. Virgin Islands are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. And, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the USVI will receive a minimum allocation of at least $25 million to help ensure high-speed internet coverage across the islands.

 

Notes

1. More details on Affordable Connectivity Program eligibility can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/acp 

Quick Bits

• USDA to Begin Accepting Applications on September 6 for ReConnect Program Round 4 (Department of Agriculture)
• FCC Announces Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Indexed Budget (FCC)
• Broadband subscriber growth slows to pre-pandemic levels (Axios)
• Is your internet service unreliable? There may be fiber in your future. (Washington Post)
• Senate Panel Considers Future of Spectrum (Benton Institute)

Weekend Reads (resist tl;dr)

• FCC Releases Form 477 Broadband Data as of June 30, 2021 (FCC)
• Just A Click Away: Broadband Competition in America (Copia)

ICYMI from Benton

• How the Capital Projects Fund Can Help Your State Close the Digital Divide
• What the American Rescue Plan is Doing for Broadband 
• Does Your State Need More Broadband?
• Putting State Broadband Funds to Work: Best Practices In State Rural Broadband Grant Programs (Ryland Sherman, Joanne Hovis, and Jacob Levin)

Upcoming Events

Aug 9—Digital Divide Forum (Fierce)

Aug 9—Preparing and Submitting Fixed Availability Data (FCC)

Aug 10—Internet for All Webinar Series - Financial Portion of the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Application (NTIA)

Aug 12—Aspen Forum 2022 (Technology Policy Institute)

Aug 15—BEAD Program Requests for Initial Planning Funds Due (NTIA)

Aug 17—First Responder Network Authority Board and Board Committees Meeting

Aug 17—The 'To and Through' Wireless Opportunity (Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition)

Aug 18—Preparing and Submitting Mobile Availability Data (FCC)

Aug 23—Using the Broadband Data Collection System and Common Error Codes (FCC)

Aug 30—How Can the United States Address the Data Divide? (Center for Data Innovation)

Aug 30—Consumer Advisory Committee (FCC)

Sep 13—Workshop On Environmental Compliance And Historic Preservation Review Procedures (FCC)

Sep 14—Internet for All Webinar Series – Review Top FAQs of the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Application (NTIA)

Sep 24—Capital Projects Fund Grant Plan Deadline (Department of Treasury)

Sep 25-28—The Right Connection (CENIC)

Sep 28—Local Coordination in NOFOs (NTIA)

Sep 29—September 2022 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting

Sep 30—Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Applications Due

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