Utah Gov. Cox Announces Statewide Initiative To Increase Affordable Connectivity Program Adoption

Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) announced a statewide initiative to increase awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a long-term benefit to help eligible households pay for high-speed internet. Over 348,596 Utah households are eligible for the ACP, while only 16% of those eligible have enrolled. The “ACP Act Now: Utah” initiative unites a broad coalition of 53 partner cities, community-based organizations, and trusted institutions in partnership with EducationSuperHighway, the national nonprofit with a mission to close the broadband affordability gap. The coalition of partners will have access to resources to help them overcome the complex awareness, trust, and enrollment barriers that prevent households in the nation’s most under-resourced communities from enrolling. Resources include email marketing templates, social media content, and a pre-enrollment tool, GetACP.org/Utah. Local community leaders can use these resources to promote the ACP and help eligible families enroll. Six local organizations/entities have been awarded grant funds to conduct ACP outreach.

• Catholic Community Services of Utah has been awarded $135,140 through the National Competitive Outreach program;
• Salt Lake County has been awarded $169,716 through the ACP Navigator Pilot program;
• Santaquin City Library has been awarded $26,760 through the National Competitive Outreach program;
• Utah Community Action Partnership Association has been awarded $400,000 through the National Competitive Outreach program;
• Utah State University has been awarded $400,000 through the National Competitive Outreach Program and $66,689 through the Tribal Competitive Outreach program;
• Utah Paiute Tribal Housing Authority has been awarded $50,000 through the ACP Your Home, Your Internet Pilot program.