Millions of homes across the country, including those in the Mountain West, could soon lose internet access. That’s if Congress doesn’t extend funding for the subsidy program.
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides subsidies of $30 to eligible broadband customers and up to $75 to households on tribal lands. But the funds ran out by the end of April.
Jon Donenberg of the National Economic Council said the program has a direct impact on disenfranchised families.
“Twenty-three million households have signed up, or 1 in 6 families,” he said. “Nearly half are military families and about a quarter are seniors.” This is the largest in our nation’s history. Internet affordability plan, it really matters. ”
The Biden administration has proposed allocating $6 billion to fund the program through the end of the year. Republican lawmakers who oppose more funding say the subsidies are an unnecessary expense for taxpayers and would make it difficult to enforce eligibility.
The program subsidizes more than 275,000 families in Nevada, more than 250,000 families in Colorado, more than 75,000 families in Utah, more than 185,000 families in New Mexico, more than 50,000 families in Idaho and more than 20,000 families in Wyoming.
This report was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau in partnership with Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio (KNPR) in Las Vegas, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico , with support from affiliated stations throughout the region.The Xishan News Bureau is partially funded by Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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