Here’s What ISPs Are Telling ACP Subscribers Today

Today is the first day of the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). As you read this, one out of every six American households is being notified that their internet bill may soon spike and potentially become unaffordable. The ACP is a federal benefit that is currently helping 22.8 million low-income households afford internet service. However, the ACP is running out of funding. If Congress does not act soon, the ACP will end this Spring and the millions of people who rely on it will experience a sudden bill shock. In preparation for this possibility, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a guidance requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to send written notifications (email, text, letter) to their ACP customers. The first of these notifications must be sent by today. Thus, one in six households are just now learning that their cost of internet service will soon go up. For many, the loss of the ACP will  increase their monthly internet bill by well over 50 percent. Given that nearly all ACP enrollees are in difficult financial circumstances, such a bill spike could easily force them to drop service, reduce service quality, or sacrifice other necessities, like groceries and medication. Today will be challenging for the millions of Americans. It is imperative that ISPs give enrollees accurate and complete information. To ensure this happens, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society has reviewed notifications from over half a dozen major ISPs.