Sen Luján, Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Amendment to Strengthen Affordable Connectivity Program

Sens Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), JD Vance (R-OH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 to strengthen the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), complete the equipment removal of China-based companies, Huawei and ZTE, and allow the Federal Communications Commission to reauction certain spectrum licenses to create more responsive networks for consumers. Access to broadband provides vital connections to education, health care and economic opportunity. The Affordable Connectivity Program, which currently helps more than 23 million households connect to affordable broadband, will expire in May without congressional action. The proposed amendment:

• Provides an additional $3.08 billion to the “rip and replace program” in the Secure and Trusted Communications Act of 2019
• Provides $6 billion to the Affordable Connectivity Program and modernizes eligibility and verification to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse
• Requires the FCC to reauction certain spectrum licenses for unassigned spectrum that the Commission has previously auctioned