The likely expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program, the largest ever connectivity support program for low-income households, invites a discussion about the impact of the program and what alternative policy tools are available to promote digital equity. This study offers a preliminary assessment of the ACP’s goal to promote fixed broadband among lowincome households. It combines broadband deployment data from the Federal Communications Commission with Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) data about ACP subscriptions and demographic information from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). Considering the relatively short lifespan of the ACP program and the time lag in data availability, the results of the study are necessarily preliminary. At the same time, given the expiration of broadband support for over 23 million of the most vulnerable households, the need for evidence that supports discussions about the future of universal service is urgent. The results indicate that the ACP program resulted in an increase of between 6 and 10 percentage points in broadband and PC adoption in low-income counties adequately served by fixed broadband, relative to underserved counties. This represents an increase of about 7% relative to the average adoption level in adequately served counties in 2021.

The US Congress faces an imminent decision about the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the connectivity it delivers to 23 million households. When it comes to low-income and hard-to-reach households, policymakers have long understood that federal support is necessary to help close the digital divide. The ACP is the federal government’s concrete commitment to ‘walk its talk’ and put real resources behind its long-stated goal of universal connectivity. Which is why in the short term, Congress needs to summon the wisdom and the courage to act now to provide immediate bridge funding to save the ACP. For the longer term, Congress should carefully consider advancing a financially responsible, and self-sustaining solution: moving the ACP into a modernized, right-sized Universal Service Fund. Congress can close the affordability gap by requiring Big Tech—the primary financial beneficiaries of universal connectivity—to also contribute to this shared national goal. Universal connectivity is within our grasp. But it requires all stakeholders to join with America’s telecommunications providers and do their part. It should be the great hope of everyone who believes in this vital national goal that they will do so.

[Jonathan Spalter is the President and CEO of USTelecom]

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote to Congressional leaders about a more than $3 billion funding shortfall in the FCC's “rip and replace” program. The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act requires the removal, replacement, and disposal of communications equipment and services produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation, and established the FCC’s reimbursement program which has only been appropriated $1.9 billion toward the approximately $4.98 billion in reimbursable costs. Chairwoman Rosenworcel explained the risks national security, network reliability, and small businesses if the program is not fully funded, and urged Congress to fully fund the program. "Several recipients have recently informed the Commission that they foresee significant consequences that could result from the lack of full funding, including having to shut down their networks or withdraw from the program. Because Reimbursement Program recipients serve many rural and remote areas of the country where they may be the only mobile broadband service provider, a shutdown of all or part of their networks could eliminate the only provider in some regions." 

AT&T is the first carrier to give customers the choice to purchase enhanced data connectivity for real-time responsiveness with the introduction of AT&T Turbo on May 2. Built to support high-performance mobile applications, like gaming, social video broadcasting and live video conferencing, with optimized data while customers are on the go. AT&T Turbo allows users the choice to optimize their network when they want by adding additional network resources to their mobile data connection. Customers can add AT&T Turbo, priced at $7/month per line on eligible plans, when they want it and remove it from their line when they don’t. Eligible customers will be in control of whether to activate this service, which boosts all the high-speed and hot spot data on a user’s connection while it is active.2 Consistent with open internet principles, once turned on the boost applies to a customer's data regardless of the internet content, applications, and services being used.