Low-income
Benton Applauds Efforts to Make Broadband More Affordable
“As Vice President Harris said today, ‘Everyone in the US should be able to afford broadband access.’" said Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Executive Director Adrianne B Furniss. "Today’s White House announcement will improve affordable access for low-income families. In addition, the work supported by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan that will be done in the States should ensure that affordable, robust broadband networks reach every address in the country.
LA County Seeks Bids to Bring High-Speed Internet to Poor Black and Latino Areas
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's $65 billion in broadband funding is fueling a nationwide rush by state and local
Biden Administration Reduces High-Speed Internet Costs for Millions of Americans
President Biden and Vice President Harris announced that they have secured private sector commitments that will lower high-speed internet costs for millions of American families. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the President and Vice President worked with Democrats and Republicans to create the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which allows tens of millions of American households to reduce their internet service costs by up to $30/month (or $75/month on Tribal lands).
Biden’s Effort to Increase Internet Access Faces Hurdle: Getting the Word Out
A $14 billion federal program to increase access to high-speed internet faces an early hurdle: The people who need it most are the hardest to reach because they aren’t online. The roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law that President Biden signed last November includes $65 billion to build up the country’s broadband network—a need
The Biden administration is capping the cost of internet for low-income Americans
The Biden administration will partner with internet providers to lower the cost of high-speed internet plans for low-income Americans. The Affordable Connectivity Program will provide plans of at least 100 Megabits per second of speed for no more than $30.
How Can the United States Address Broadband Affordability?
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for high-speed internet access in Americans’ homes and elevated debate about the cost and affordability of connections and devices. Congress responded with emergency measures designed to keep households online.
Alabama makes strides on broadband access and infrastructure in the Black Belt
Infrastructure in Alabama’s Black Belt region - and in rural Alabama in general - lags far behind the rest of the state, but some progress is being made. From roads and bridges to sewage systems to broadband internet access, there has been a shift among Alabama’s leadership in the last few years that will benefit rural areas in the long run, according to researchers at the University of Alabama’s Education Policy Center. “In recent years, Alabama’s state infrastructure policy has gone from being reactive to proactive,” said Dr.
New Federal Benefit Provides Affordable Broadband Access
This article examines the new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) access to broadband for low-income households. The article explains what the ACP offers, who can obtain benefits, and how to apply. With over 11.5 million households already enrolled in ACP, consumer practitioners need to know how to help clients with enrollment and to advise those already enrolled as to their rights.
A Simple Proposal to Help Rural Persistent Poverty Counties
Without affordable, high-quality broadband, persistent poverty counties in the United States have no chance. As a nation currently spending upwards of $100 billion in public funds on broadband, helping these counties is the least we can do. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) contains a provision that
Broadband Myths: Do ISPs Engage in “Digital Redlining?”
Some activists have begun to frame location-based broadband discrepancies in racial terms, accusing Internet service providers (ISPs) of “digital redlining.” But an analysis of Census data and facts on the ground has found that the “digital redlining” narrative—while an emotion-triggering term—does not stand up to scrutiny.