KEYSVILLE — The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the nation’s largest broadband affordability program, is currently helping 23 million households across the country who struggle to afford the Internet service they need for work, school, health care and more.
Due to a lack of funding, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently froze enrollment and announced that the program would only be fully funded through April.
As of February, nearly 59,000 households in 11 upstate New York counties were enrolled in the program, which offers discounts of up to $30 per month on internet service (or up to $75 per month on eligible tribal lands); Laptops , desktop or tablet with one-time discounts of up to $100.
According to the FCC, two-thirds of ACP households had spotty or zero connectivity before joining the program, and more than three-quarters of ACP households will experience service interruptions if the program ends.
ADK Action Advocacy
AdkAction, a regional nonprofit working to address issues for the people and nature of the Adirondacks, urges individuals to send letters to legislators in support of affordable internet plans. AdkAction’s Broadband for All project works closely with residents across the region and has seen first-hand the significant impact ACP has had in increasing equitable access to internet services.
“Extending the ACP to include digital inclusion in the Adirondack Park is critical,” said Sawyer Bailey, executive director of AdkAction.
“No one should be forced to choose between paying for broadband internet and buying food, filling prescriptions, or filling up the tank to drive to work. Yet, that’s exactly what the Phase Out ACP will do. We sincerely want to add and extending the Affordable Connectivity Scheme, we hope others will join us in our commitment to broadband access.”
“Having access to broadband in rural areas is not a luxury, but a lifeline for many residents in the North Country,” said Dave Wolff, chair of AdkAction’s Broadband Committee.
“The Affordable Connectivity Initiative not only bridges the digital divide; behind.”
For 12 years, AdkAction has hosted monthly conference calls to discuss the state of broadband availability, adoption and usage in the North Country. The forum attracted more than 160 participants (providers, elected officials, interested citizens) from across the North Country and those representing state and federal broadband-related agencies to exchange ideas, best practices and lessons learned.
AdkAction is an active participant in the North Country Broadband Alliance, working with many other public and private partners to promote our region’s shared interests in broadband expansion and provide state and federal broadband support to the North Country.
For more information about the end of ACP, and a template for writing a letter to legislators expressing support for the program, visit adkaction.org/broadbandaction.