Senate Inaction on ACP Could Strand Tens of Millions of Americans Without Affordable Broadband Access

On May 9, the US Senate passed the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization package without a proposed amendment to provide $6 billion to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).  Without this injection of new capital to the ACP, the broadband-access subsidy that has helped more than 23 million households get and stay online will expire in May. Free Press Action Internet Campaign Director Heather Franklin said “Free Press Action is deeply disappointed in Congress for failing to pass funding for this essential and successful internet-access subsidy ... While the program’s days are numbered, Congress still has a chance to save it. It doesn’t matter whether funding is extended through an amendment to other measures or as a stand-alone bill. Leadership in both the House and the Senate must step up before it’s too late. Without the ACP, more than 23 million households face the imminent loss of the support they need to afford their broadband bills ...  Lawmakers must pass legislation that extends funding for affordable high-speed internet access for everyone.”