Affordable Internet: Need and Opportunity Greater than Ever in 2023

Oh, the internet — today so many people are online almost constantly. And yet so many people in the US still have a tenuous connection to the internet. But here is the good news. The United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry, along with a huge number of allies from the civil rights and public interest communities, successfully persuaded Congress to adopt a new program. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal program designed to help low-income households pay for broadband internet service. Since the adoption of a 1997 General Synod resolution, the United Church of Christ has formally recognized the need to ensure that our society does not become divided between those who are “information rich” and those who are “information poor,” leaving struggling people without the tools they need to succeed in today’s society. In 2023, we will vote again as a national denomination to commit ourselves to equitable and affordable high-quality access to communications for everyone.