Congress can’t let affordable broadband slip away

In less than two months, if Congress does not act, tens of millions of people could find themselves unable to stay connected to high-speed internet. Because Congress is dragging its feet and a handful of members are arguing that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is wasteful, expensive, and unnecessary, this program is at risk of disappearing entirely. Rather than killing a successful program that balances government investment and pro-market incentives, opponents should put forth real reforms or consolidate the other duplicative 133 broadband programs across 15 federal agencies. ACP is facing a heightened level of scrutiny, unlike many of its bloated, expensive, failed predecessors, in part because it has been so successful in a few short years. While this program hangs on life support, the question shouldn’t be how to gut the program but how to save it and ensure ACP can live up to its potential. It not only helps customers keep broadband service but attracts new customers, too. The program was never intended to drive broadband adoption, or it would have been limited only to new broadband subscribers. And yet, it has helped millions of new customers connect. As those underserved customer needs grow, the private sector increasingly will see incentives to upgrade and improve networks in those communities in the future. In fact, every dollar spent on ACP has generated $3.89 in return for communities.

[Jonathan Cannon serves as policy counsel for the R Street Institute’s technology and innovation team]