National nonprofit groups say they are asking Congress to update the Affordable Connectivity Plan.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — 23 million U.S. households, including 25,000 in Alaska, rely on the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) to get Internet service and stay online. Unless Congress acts soon, monthly broadband benefits will end, with devastating consequences for under-resourced families.
ACP is a $14.2 billion federal broadband benefit funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that provides eligible households with rebates of up to $30 per month (up to $30 per month for households on eligible tribal lands) $75) and a copy – $100 off the purchase of a laptop, desktop or tablet. Nationwide, 51.6 million households, including 17.7 million unconnected households, are eligible for ACP, making it a critical tool in closing America’s stubborn digital divide, two-thirds of which is due to burden caused by ability.
In Alaska, more than 96,000 families are eligible for ACP, of which 25,000 (26%) are enrolled. Families estimated to be affected include:
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2,000 veteran families,
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4,000 senior households, and
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5,000 families with incomes below the federal poverty level.
If Congress does not pass the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Expansion Act of 2024, registered households will see their internet bills rise significantly and could lose service entirely. Without home internet, struggling Americans lack access to online education, health care, the social safety net, vital government services and the digital economy. Access to home Internet can increase the annual income of low-resource American households by $2,200.
The Affordable Internet Initiative is a bipartisan success story. Forty-four percent of enrollees live in Republican congressional districts and 55% live in Democratic congressional districts. Majorities in both parties support the ACP: 64% of Republicans and 95% of Democrats.
Alaska residents can call on Senator Murkowski to take action in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Extension Act of 2024 by visiting DontDisconnectUS.org.
EducationSuperHighway is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to bridge the digital divide for the 17 million families who have access to the Internet but cannot afford it. We focus on America’s most disconnected communities, where more than 25% of people don’t have access to the internet.
www.educationsuperhighway.org