Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) Leads Effort to Fund and Continue Affordable Connectivity Program

As Members of the New York delegation, we are writing to urge you to allocate $7 billion for the critical Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) via a manager amendment when the fiscal year 2024 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill is brought to the House floor or through any emergency supplemental appropriations package taken up by Congress. The ACP provides over 1.5 million New York working-class households and over 21 million American households nationwide with financial assistance for broadband access, helping bridge the digital divide. We cannot risk losing a tool that helps close the opportunity divide for students, provides telehealth for vulnerable homebound individuals, and employment connectivity for jobseekers. In New York, almost 50% of eligible households currently take advantage of this federal benefit, with New York being one of the leading states in the nation for ACP enrollment. In addition, the ACP has a significant impact on public housing residents in New York, who often face barriers to accessing affordable and reliable broadband service. Without this funding, tens of millions of households would suddenly see their bills increase significantly and many could be forced to cancel their high-speed broadband service and be disconnected from education, health, and job opportunities. This would be a devastating setback for our efforts to close the digital divide and ensure digital equity for all Americans.