The federal subsidy program that made home broadband cheap or completely free for more than 23 million households will freeze new registrations after 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday and is expected to end, likely by May.
The Federal Communications Commission has issued its final public announcement regarding the impending termination of the Affordable Connectivity Program (PDF) after months of warning that the program would be depleted of funding without Congressional action to restore its budget. announced.
The FCC introduced the ACP at the end of 2021, replacing the emergency broadband benefit it launched as a pandemic assistance program.
Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, households with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, or who meet any of the various poverty guidelines, will receive a $30 monthly discount (for eligible $75 per month on tribal lands). Other eligibility criteria, such as Medicaid participation and the child receiving free or reduced-price school meals.
These standards are more permissive than the FCC’s less generous Lifeline Program eligibility rules, and the program will continue to operate.
Many Internet providers responded by advertising that ACP subsidies would make some of their plans free. In May 2022, the Biden administration announced a commitment from 20 of these companies to offer essentially free plans for $30 per month with download speeds of 100 Mbps or higher, no additional charges, and no data caps. Some of these providers, such as Comcast’s Internet Essentials and Spectrum’s Internet Assist, already offered discounted but significantly slower plans to low-income households.
As of February 5, 23.2 million households, including 22.9 million non-tribal households, were enrolled in ACP benefits. A White House fact sheet posted Tuesday says these numbers represent about 1 in 6 households and are tied to state-level breakdowns. Louisiana has about one in three households participating in the program, making it the state with the highest per capita benefits, while Puerto Rico has about one in two participating.
However, there are only a few hours left until the registration period ends. And without Congressional action to renew funding for the program, the FCC’s Wednesday notice predicts that the budget for these subsidies will run out after April.
In January, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill that would provide an additional $7 billion in funding to the program. However, the proposal filed by Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Sen. Kevin Cramer (D) The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024), as well as Rep. Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), are already the most productive for the Legislature in decades. It has yet to move forward in either chamber during what has been a slow session.
Anyone interested in enrolling for Affordable Connectivity Program grants can visit GetInternet.gov or call 877-384-2575.
