The ACP is Critical Aid for Low Income Older Adults

It is downright shocking that millions of low-income older adults, members of our one of our most vulnerable communities, will lose their broadband connection due to the uncertainty of funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. For older adults in financial need, the extension of funding for the ACP is critical. While the number of those over the age of 65 with broadband in the home has grown, it is still one of the biggest gaps of the digital divide. At the start of the ACP, only 64% of those 65 and older had a broadband connection in the home Pew Research. The ACP has demonstrated that it is starting to close some of this divide. According to the most recent data released, almost 20% of the ACP recipients are 65 and older and nearly half of those enrolled are over 50 years old. Continuation of the ACP is essential for all older low-income consumers. The ACP needs to continue to carry out the critical role it has played in helping to close the digital divide among our older adult community.

[Debra Berlyn is the Executive Director of the Project to Get Older Adults onLine. She is also president of Consumer Policy Solutions, is on the board of the National Consumers League, and is a board member and senior fellow with the Future of Privacy Forum.]