The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is ending due to a lack of funding from Congress.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than a million households in Missouri and Illinois rely on discounted internet service.
Congress enacted the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) on December 31, 2021. The program provides qualifying low-income families with up to $30 per month off their home internet bills.
5 On Your Side viewer Pamela Brown asked the VERIFY team if the show would ever end.
question
Will Wi-Fi fee reductions stop in April?
source
Answer
Yes, the FCC expects ACP to be terminated. The last fully funded month for this benefit is April 2024.
what we found
ACP was established as the long-standing successor to the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which was designed to help households struggling to afford internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the ACP was launched, the federal government allocated $14.2 billion. The money is almost gone. Congress has not approved additional funding, so the FCC is winding down the program.
“The Affordable Connectivity Program stopped accepting new applications and enrollment on February 8,” the FCC website states. “Unless Congress provides additional funding, April is expected to be the last month for enrolled households to receive full benefits.”
Households that have received ACP benefits should have received written notice from their Internet provider of the expected end of the program. Providers must also send at least two written notices to households explaining the impact on their bills. Households also have the right to change providers or cancel internet access without penalty after the ACP ends.
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), a nonprofit organization focused on digital equity, provides families who rely on ACP the opportunity to contact their state representatives and share their experiences participating in the program. Click here to learn more.
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