For full participation in our society, access to high-speed, affordable broadband is essential — for education, economic empowerment, civic engagement, telehealth and so much more.
But the U.S. is facing a crisis: the two federal programs that provide internet subsidies to low-income families are running out — or are already out — of funding.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), funded through appropriations, expired in the middle of June 2024.
Lifeline, funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF), is dependent on a fee on certain revenues for traditional telephone services, an ever-diminishing pool of funds.
Failure to fund these programs will result in millions of households losing their internet subsidies.
This will force households to choose between paying for broadband and other essentials and will likely result in a much wider digital divide.
It’s time to reform this system and find a sustainable way to help low-income families get online and stay online.
We need to re-envision the USF to address today's needs, including ensuring that there is a permanent funding mechanism for the ACP or something very similar to it.
