(KMAland) — Local internet subsidy programs could be phased out.
Tom Perez, a senior adviser to the president, said the Biden administration requested $6 billion in October to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. This subsidy can reduce your high-speed internet plan by $30 to $75 per month.
Perez said if Congress doesn’t act, there won’t be enough money to continue providing assistance to the roughly 23 million households it serves.
“To give you some perspective, there are currently more households participating in the Affordable Connections Program than there are households participating in the SNAP program. Both are and will continue to be important parts of the social safety net. It has to remain an important part of our social safety net.It must continue to be an important part of our social safety net.”
The Federal Communications Commission has said that without funding, the subsidy would end within months. As part of that, FCC Commissioner Paloma Perez said that as of this week, the Affordable Connections program will no longer accept new enrollments.
“We are in the midst of an outreach effort to ensure all households are aware of the potential loss of benefits, and many providers have already issued initial notifications to potentially affected consumers. You have been asked to send it.”
Paloma Perez says affordable and reliable internet is essential in rural America. That’s how they access education, healthcare, and of course precision agriculture.
“Millions of households across the country. The bipartisan Infrastructure Act created this program. It is our largest effort in history to make broadband affordable nationwide. But now I millions of families are on the brink of being cut off from their lives.” “Work, school, markets, and information are not the answer. And we are at a point of no return.” We’ve come a long way.”
Tom Perez says the Biden administration wants to give every American access to affordable, high-speed internet by the end of the decade and is pushing for $90 billion in its investment agenda for the United States. Ta.
“For President Biden, the internet is like water. It’s a public necessity, and it should be affordable and accessible to everyone.”
Senior Advisor to President Tom Perez.
