Federal Communications Commission officials have warned that more than 127,000 West Virginia households could lose broadband service due to Congress’ lack of funding for programs that provide internet access to low-income households. ing.
Without more funding from Congress, more than 127,000 West Virginia households could lose access to the internet, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials have warned.
At-risk users are those served by the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides discounted broadband internet to low-income households across the country. Approximately 23 million households nationwide rely on this program.
“The Affordable Connectivity Program is connecting millions of households across the country,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a press release Thursday. FCC oversees her ACP and works with users across the country.
“The bipartisan Infrastructure Act created this program, the largest effort in our history to make broadband affordable across the country, and we are now on the brink of missing out on that success.” said Rosenworcel.
ACP funding approved by Congress can only continue through April if fully supported and May if partially supported. Without additional funding, the program will be unable to accept new applicants in just one week, according to a press release.
Last month, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, which would allocate $7 billion in new funding to the ACP.
Program officials said that until additional funding is secured, closure procedures must continue to ensure users are aware of the risks ahead.
“Separating millions of families from jobs, schools, markets and information is not the answer,” Rosenworcel said. “We have gone too far with the ACP and there is no going back.”
