Another Vehicle for ACP Funding

On May 9, 2024, Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced new legislation to strengthen the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), complete the equipment removal of China-based telecommunications companies, Huawei and ZTE, and allow the Federal Communications Commission to auction certain spectrum licenses to create more responsive networks for consumers. The bill would:

• Provide $6 billion to the ACP and modernizes eligibility and verification to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse
• Provide an additional $3.08 billion to the “rip and replace program” in the Secure and Trusted Communications Act of 2019
• Require the FCC to reauction certain spectrum licenses for unassigned spectrum that the Commission has previously auctioned