Enrollment Hurdles Limit Uptake for FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides the primary subsidy available to cover broadband subscription costs for low-income households, but only 1 in 4 eligible households have enrolled in the ACP since it launched in 2021. The problem of limited access to broadband can be especially acute in federally subsidized housing, where residents have incomes well below the area median and few resources to get online. Reducing enrollment burdens and improving federal data-sharing agreements would increase program uptake for residents who should be able to qualify automatically, especially older adults and people with disabilities. Implementation of the FCC’s recommendations on data sharing and expanded use of alternative verification processes would help reduce the review burdens associated with ACP enrollment. Federal and state policymakers should continue to evaluate options for facilitating ACP enrollment—not just for households receiving federal housing assistance but also for those qualifying through other federal benefit programs—to ensure that more low-income families can get and stay connected to broadband.

[Anna Read is a senior officer and Kelly Wert is an associate with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ broadband access initiative.]