Civil Rights Organizations Demand Congress to Prioritize ACP Funding Before Looming Government Shutdown

We, the undersigned groups, write to emphasize the dire need for Congress to pass 6 billion dollars in supplemental funding to sustain the Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”) through the end of 2024. As of October 25, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration requested Congress to appropriate emergency funding for critical domestic issues, including $6 billion earmarked for ACP to ensure eligible households across the country remain connected online. We strongly urge Congress to prioritize this funding request before the government shuts down as the current ACP fund is expected to deplete in 2024 — depriving over 21 million households of vital internet services in the ever-changing digital age. Without the additional $6 billion, millions of Americans reliant on ACP will lose access to high-speed internet, a fundamental civil right in the 21st century. In an evolving digital ecosystem, low-income and marginalized households in all districts cannot afford this risk. It is imperative and urgent for Congress to take action now to secure ACP funding for 2024 and continue to strategize long-term solutions that establish equitable access to broadband services for all. Pass the $6 billion for ACP today to ensure millions of families do not lose access to the internet.