Letter Urging Congress to Support Additional Funding for the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program

We write to express our strong support for the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and to urge Congress to allocate additional funding to this crucial initiative. By investing in the FCC’s ACP, we can address the existing digital disparities faced by people with disabilities and promote a more inclusive and equitable society. As the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, we appreciate your leadership in ensuring that the ACP continues to close the digital divide for people with disabilities and millions of eligible households across our nation. Access to affordable and robust broadband connectivity is a fundamental necessity in our increasingly digital world. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities face significant barriers when it comes to accessing affordable broadband services. Broadband is no longer just a convenience; it is a vital tool that enables individuals to access educational resources, healthcare services, employment and job opportunities, as well as civic, community, and social engagement. As you are acutely aware, while the ACP has made great strides in making broadband services more affordable to low-income households, not only must the progress we have made be sustained, much more outreach and household inclusion remains to be done. If the Program funding were to lapse, millions of households would be left behind and these government-supported outreach efforts will have been for nought. By providing additional funding to this program, Congress can maintain its commitment to the more than 19 million households already served by the ACP and expand the reach of the program to the projected 51.6 million eligible households across our nation.