Broadband for all: The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits households across party lines

Discussions about funding for social programs are too often framed along predictable partisan lines. However, the reality on the ground is frequently more complex, and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is no exception. A simple look at the data reveals that the program supports connectivity for families in both red and blue communities, and that Republicans stand to lose as much as Democrats if the program is not renewed when the funds ran out sometime in 2024. Of the approximately 17.1 million households that received ACP support as of April 2023 (the latest disaggregated data available), about 8.4 million lived in Republican districts while 8.7 million lived in Democrat districts. In other words, the partisan split based on area of residence (49% in Republican districts and 51% in Democrat districts) indicates that House members from both parties represent almost equal numbers of ACP recipients. Results show ACP participation is only slightly higher in Democrat (31.8% of eligible households) than in Republican districts (29.7%). Even when adjusting for congressional district population, the difference remains small. Of course we don’t know the exact voting preferences of ACP households in each district, but what the aggregate data shows is that House members on both sides of the aisle are equally likely to face voter backlash if the program is not renewed.