The Affordable Connectivity Program Needs More Funding to Continue Closing the Digital Divide

High-speed internet service at home is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. From remote learning, to working from home, to starting a business or accessing telehealth services, high-speed internet is a vital service in US homes--but not everyone can afford the cost of the service. Since its inception in December 2021, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has successfully supported more than 18 million qualifying low-income households with discounts on their monthly internet bill. The ACP has given millions of Americans the transformative power of an internet connection that has opened doors to access remote education and learning and opportunities to boost the economy by working from home and starting businesses. Despite its resounding success, the ACP is now in danger of running out of funding. According to recent analysis, funding for the ACP is likely to run out by mid-2024. This should ring alarm bells for Congress to pass legislation to extend the program. The Biden-Harris administration is set to invest a historic $42 billion in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to build broadband infrastructure across the country. If Congress allows funding for the ACP to lapse it would thwart the efficacy of the BEAD program’s purpose to ensure that every American has access to reliable high-speed internet. All Americans deserve to be able to participate in the digital economy, and the ACP plays a significant role in ensuring that this occurs. It is imperative for Congress to move quickly to extend funding for the ACP before it runs out. Closing the digital divide and the future of our economy and global competitiveness depend on it. 

[Melanie Campbell is the president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; Joycelyn Tate is the senior technology policy advisor for the Black Women’s Roundtable and project director for the Black Women’s Roundtable Digital Equity, Connectivity and Women’s Economic Empowerment Project]