A Sustainable Path Toward Digital Equity Must Prioritize Broadband Affordability Assistance

The process of creating effective, pro-consumer policies is often filled with opportunities, challenges, and ambiguity. The process has been no different for the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which allowed 23 million low-income households an opportunity to reliably connect to affordable high-speed internet. Unfortunately, due to the inaction of Congress, the program expired at the end of May and left those households with band-aid, temporary solutions to meet their critical connectivity needs. The failure to fund the ACP in the short-term is shameful and impacts low-income households the most, but it also puts the efficiency of broadband deployment and broadband adoption programs at risk. And while the resultant harms cannot be undone, they can be rectified if swift Congressional action is taken to restore the ACP.