NEC Urges Congress to Fund Affordable Connectivity Program in Year-End Package
In November 2024, The New England Council sent letters to the New England Congressional delegation urging them to renew funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in an end-of-year package.
Established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in late 2021, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ensures that all Americans have access to high-speed internet, which has become vital to economic success in the 21st century. Administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the ACP provided a monthly subsidy of $30 for eligible households to use for broadband internet. It also provided a one-time $100 benefit toward the purchase of a tablet, laptop or other device that facilitates internet access. Since its launch, the ACP helped more than 23 million American households gain access to affordable broadband, including over 800,000 across New England region. Unfortunately, funding for the program ran out earlier this year.
This latest letter to Congress builds upon the Council’s previous support for the ACP, voiced in a January 2024 letter. The Council also stressed the importance of this issue in a recent Op-Ed piece.
For more information on the Council’s work on this issue, or the NEC Technology & Innovation Working Group, please contact Mariah Healy.