Welch’s Affordable Connectivity Program Amendment Advances Out of Commerce Committee

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced Senator Peter Welch’s (D-VT) amendment to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program with $7 billion, as requested in his bicameral, bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act. The amendment was attached to the PLAN for Broadband Act, legislation to streamline federal broadband program to make it more accessible for underserved areas. The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act’s original Senate cosponsors include Sens Welch (D-VT), JD Vance (R-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Roger Marshall (R-KS). Reps Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01) are leading the legislation in the House.