Low-income
How telehealth is boosting care access among NYC’s homeless population
Though telehealth has the potential to significantly expand healthcare access, social determinants of health (SDOH) challenges like housing insecurity can hinder this access, depriving already vulnerable populations of much-needed healthcare services.
Mediacom Boosts Speeds, Adds Low-Cost ACP Replacement Service
Mediacom has increased the download speeds of two of its service tiers and introduced a new plan aimed at economically challenged households that could be a low-cost option for households losing their Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefit. The service provider’s Xtream Internet 100 will become Xtream Internet 250, with download speeds increasing from 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 250 Mbps. The Xtream Internet 300 tier will become Xtream Internet 500, with download speeds increasing from 300 Mbps to 500 Mbps. The switch will be flipped on the higher download speeds on May 17.
Charter CEO: How the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program impacts broadband subscriptions
The cable industry hasn’t been doing too great with keeping broadband subscribers, and Charter is no different. CEO Chris Winfrey’s take on the situation?
Rep Yvette Clarke Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging House and Senate Leadership to Fund Affordable Connectivity Program Through FAA Reauthorization Bill
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) led 121 of her colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging them to include funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program in legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “We write today to express our serious concern regarding the impending lapse of funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
Efforts to reform federal broadband subsidy gain traction
As lawmakers debate funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that would change the program in an effort to win more support for it and possibly improve its long-term viability. A group of senators introduced legislation that would revise eligibility criteria, among other things. The compromise is seen as necessary to win over skeptics of the program.
NDIA Continues to Fight for Rigorous Digital Discrimination Rules
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance has warned policymakers about digital redlining, a discriminatory practice that prevents certain populations from having internet access, since 2017. Thanks in part to these warnings and advocacy efforts, the creation of digital discrimination rules was mandated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Congressional hearing in Bakersfield (CA) focuses on rural broadband debate
A delegation of US Congress members part of the Congressional Western Caucus and House Commerce Committee was in Bakersfield (CA) on May 10. At a nearly two-hour field hearing, Central Valley farming representatives joined rural internet service providers in highlighting the importance of high-speed connectivity to precision agriculture as well as poor communities reliant on computers for health care, education and remote work. While there was little question how vital internet service has become to rural areas, the underlying question was what role the government should have in not only he
Pillars, Policies, And Plausible Pathways Linking Digital Inclusion And Health Equity
Digital inclusion is considered a super social determinant of health and rests on four pillars: available and affordable broadband service, quality devices, digital skills and training, and technical support for using accessible applications. Evidence suggests two pathways through which digital inclusion and health equity are connected. The direct pathway is through increasing access to health care services.
FCC Proposes $8 Million Fine and Initiates Removal for ACP Violations
On May 10, the Federal Communications Commission published an order proposing an $8 million fine K20 Wireless LLC and Krandon Wenger for apparently violating Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) rules. "From at least June 2022 to May 2023, K20 sought and received ACP Tribal lands support for subscribers who were not eligible for those benefits.
Senate Inaction on ACP Could Strand Tens of Millions of Americans Without Affordable Broadband Access
On May 9, the US Senate passed the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization package without a proposed amendment to provide $6 billion to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Without this injection of new capital to the ACP, the broadband-access subsidy that has helped more than 23 million households get and stay online will expire in May. Free Press Action Internet Campaign Director Heather Franklin said “Free Press Action is deeply disappointed in Congress for failing to pass funding for this essential and successful internet-access subsidy ... While the program’s days