Lawmakers push to revive low-income broadband subsidy as providers pivot

Internet service providers including Charter, Verizon and Comcast are shifting customers away from the Affordable Connectivity Program, an expired federal internet subsidy that helped low-income households pay for broadband. The $14.2 billion program, which went into effect in December 2021, served roughly 23 million households, two-thirds of which had either inconsistent or zero internet access prior to enrolling. But it officially ended in June after Congress decided not to renew its funding. Since the ACP lapsed, some Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been working to bring back the program. But broadband companies have been focused on transitioning their customers to other affordable options to help them make up the expired discount.