Viewpoints
By: Kevin Donnelly, NMHC, and Valerie M. Sargent, Broadband Communities
Contact your local reps to urge ACP renewal now.
We have talked to you before about how the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program’s success in bridging the digital divide by building out broadband across the U.S. to reach unserved and underserved markets hinges ultimately on the ongoing existence and success of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). (See our article Broadband Deployment State Funding Allocations Announced for background).
Yet despite this linkage, inaction in Congress leaves the ACP on the brink of running out of funding and cutting millions of Americans off from the vital lifeline that is affordable broadband service.
Call to action: Contact Congress!
With the looming funding cut-off timing of April 2024, the FCC has already required ISPs to turn away new applications for the ACP and notify existing beneficiaries of the program’s funding lapse and winding down. But hope is not lost. Bipartisan work is underway in Congress to see the program funded for 2024.
NMHC recently joined with other stakeholders in endorsing the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 (S. 3565 and H.R. 6929) to provide $7 billion in funding for the ACP and keep the program operational throughout the remainder of 2024. Introduced by Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), this legislation would extend funding for the ACP to avoid a lapse of the program.
Previously, we urged you to contact your representatives, and now it’s even more important. It is important enough that we put the Call to Action at the top of this article and have included more information on the ACP funding expiration below.
Find and contact your reps here:
We strongly urge property owners, broadband providers, and concerned citizens to contact their congressional representatives in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to ask them to prioritize both access and affordability to ensure all Americans can continue to connect to the internet.
Find your local representatives here.
Please tell Congress to take urgent action to renew the ACP for all families nationwide that rely on the ACP to learn, work remotely, access health care, and so much more.
It is critical for constituents to also weigh in with their Governors and state and local lawmakers to make sure that they’re pushing federal delegations to support funding the ACP. Timing is short to extend this program and prevent disruption, which is why action now is critical.
Find and contact your governor here:
Find contact information for your Governor here.
What is needed?
As mentioned, there is growing bipartisan support for extending the ACP. That said, it’s not going to be an easy climb. With the interplay of all the national dynamics, congressional dysfunction, necessary timelines, and the additional complication of an election year, there is a lot of stuff swirling around D.C. and attention is limited. We have a divided government with tough fiscal austerity measures being put into place in the House. The Senate is more willing to fund programs and be a little bolder, but eventually they both need to meet in the middle to get something enacted.
The challenge here is that despite the bipartisan support and the introduction of legislation to fund the program for 2024, there is a long-term challenge. To not only avert the looming ACP lapse, but to prevent another program shutdown in the future, a long-term solution is needed to fix this and the other similar FCC subsidy programs. Currently these programs are Congressionally directed or funded though add-on fees or pass-throughs to telecom providers via traditional customer bills. While that always worked for a low dollar amount, as with Lifeline, it is not nearly sufficient for a long-term subsidy on broadband. Here too, Congress is looking at bipartisan solutions to fix this for the long-haul, including the possibility of opening up new wireless spectrum auctions and dedicating their revenue to fund these programs.
What else is being done?
While NMHC and other stakeholders like Education Superhighway are pushing to make sure Congress understands the importance of this program, our work is not done. NMHC continues to push the FCC to provide greater clarity around ACP eligibility for renters (and properties) who receive internet service via bulk or managed WiFi systems. While the highest priority is funding the future of the ACP, expanding the eligible universe of low-income Americans who can benefit from the program is incredibly important, impacts housing affordability, and has the potential to expand the reach of the ACP to millions more Americans.
