BUFFALO, N.Y. — On Friday, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand traveled to Buffalo to announce the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program serving 97,000 households in Erie County.
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“As important as getting clean water and heat to your home is, it’s just as important that everyone has access to phone service.”
This program offers $30 off your internet bill and up to $100 off your laptop, desktop, or tablet if you qualify.
If you live on tribal land or in a rural community, this program could save you up to $75 on your internet bill.
Without this bill, ACP would run out of funding in April, leaving 1.7 million New Yorkers and 97,000 Erie County residents without internet access.
DaJuan Paul is just one of the thousands of people in Buffalo without internet access. He told Seven News reporter Jardine Johnson that he comes to the Buffalo Erie County Library every day to use the public computers.
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“I don’t have WiFi or internet service at home, so I just come here and do what I need to do on this computer,” Paul said.
The county is promoting universal access through ErieNet.
“By the end of 2026, every municipality in Erie County will have fiber optic,” said Melissa Hartman, executive director of Erienet. “Currently, less than half of communities have access to a fiber optic network.” Stated.
Learn more about ACP here.
