GREENVILLE — Unless Congress acts, thousands of low-income South Carolinians will pay more for high-speed internet or may lose access entirely this spring, but with subsidies South Carolina lawmakers are divided on whether to continue the system.
The pandemic-era Affordable Connectivity Program will help approximately 425,500 South Carolinians cut their internet bills by $30 to $75 per month and provide a one-time discount on the purchase of a laptop, desktop, or tablet. supported households.
White House officials estimate that South Carolina families below the poverty level received a total of $204.6 million in funding, helping them save about $11.6 million a month.
In South Carolina, most people using the program live in the state’s 7th Congressional District, represented by Republican Rep. Russell Frey. The district includes some of South Carolina’s poorest and most rural counties, including the Republican strongholds of Horry County and the Grand Strand, as well as much of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Marion, Marlboro and Florence counties. include.
The largest number of participating households was in the Pee Dee region with 81,856 households (28%).
The $14.2 billion originally earmarked for funding for the Internet Discount Program is scheduled to run out in April unless Congress passes an extension. The Federal Communications Commission stopped enrolling new customers on February 7, and internet providers are notifying customers that the program may soon end, leaving many people without additional charges. You are forced to choose between paying the amount or losing your coverage.
Calling this an important request, the White House has asked Congress for $6 billion to maintain the program through December. But representatives like Mr. Frye do not support extending the funding.
One in six U.S. households saves $30 to $75 a month on their internet bills thanks to affordable connectivity programs.
Once it expires, millions of people could lose access to low-cost online access.
I can’t allow that to happen.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 8, 2024
“While designed to connect non-subscribers to the internet, this pandemic-era program is an abuse of taxpayer dollars,” Fly spokeswoman Hannah Nine said in an emailed statement. said. “As our nation faces a severe debt crisis, it is imperative that federally funded spending programs focus on helping those most in need,” she said.
