In Chicago, Democratic Mayors Urge Action to Preserve Affordable Internet

Democratic mayors from major U.S. cities discussed the critical need to maintain affordable internet access for their constituents to mitigate impacts of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program’s expiration. The mayors outlined strategies to bridge the gap left by the program’s end during a discussion hosted by the Democratic Mayors Association at the Democratic National Convention. The ACP, a federal initiative that provided low-income and Tribal households with subsidies for internet service, had been a crucial resource for more than 23 million American households. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego highlighted the importance of cities pursuing private-sector partnerships to expand internet access and adoption, while Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens spoke about the stop-gap measure the city provided using American Rescue Plan dollars to offer temporary relief to residents struggling with their internet bills.