The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will end due to lack of funding from Congress.
WASHINGTON, DC — More than 1 million households in Missouri and Illinois receive discounted internet service.
Congress established the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) on December 31, 2021. The program offers eligible low-income households up to $30 per month off their home internet bill.
5 On Your Side viewer Pamela Brown asked the VERIFY team if the show was ending.
question
Will discounted Wi-Fi payments be discontinued in April?
source of information
answer
Yes, the FCC anticipates that ACP will be phased out. The last month he received this benefit in full was April 2024.
what we found
The ACP was established as a long-term successor to the Emergency Broadband Benefit to support families struggling to access the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal government allocated $14.2 billion when the ACP was launched. That money is about to run out. Congress has not approved additional funding, so the FCC is scaling back the program.
“The Affordable Connections Program stopped accepting new applications and registrations on February 8,” the FCC’s website states. “Without additional funding from Congress, April is expected to be the last month that participating households will receive full benefits.”
Families receiving ACP benefits should have already received written notice from their internet provider regarding the planned termination of the program. Providers are also required to send at least two written notices to households explaining the impact on their bills. Households also have the right to change providers or cancel internet access without penalty after ACP ends.
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), a nonprofit organization focused on digital equity, offers households that rely on ACP the opportunity to connect with national representatives and share their experiences with the program. . Click here for more information.
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