OTI Endorses Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024

Today, Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), and others introduced the “Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024” in both chambers of Congress. The Open Technology Institute at New America endorses the legislation, which would appropriate $7 billion to the Affordable Connectivity Fund for fiscal year 2024, exceeding the $6 billion the Biden Administration requested in its October 2023 supplemental budget request. If Congress cannot reach an agreement to fund the ACP before it runs out of funds—a turning point anticipated within the next 5 months—millions could lose connectivity, exacerbating our nation’s digital divide and undoing the progress we’ve made towards broadband for all.

The ACP provides eligible low income households and individuals with a discount up to $30 per month toward internet services ($75 per month for those on qualifying Tribal lands). Since launching two years ago, the program has helped 23 million households get connected and stay connected with high-speed broadband, enabling low-income, Tribal, and rural households in both Republican and Democratic districts to access remote work, virtual classes, telehealth, and digital government services. According to Universal Service Fund data, these households include 960,000+ veteran households, 3.2 million families with a K-12 student receiving free or reduced-price lunches, 1.1 million low-income college students, and 10 million subscribers who are 50 or older.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided the original funding for the ACP, along with an historic investment of $42.45 billion in the Broadband Equity and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand access to high-speed home internet by funding infrastructure deployment throughout the nation. The BEAD and ACP programs work in tandem to achieve Congress’ goal of universal broadband deployment and adoption. Failing to provide continued funding for the ACP would reduce the efficacy of the investment in the BEAD program and undermine its goal of universal broadband access in the United States.

Efforts to renew ACP funding have garnered wide-spread bipartisan support among voters, public interest organizations, governors, and members of Congress. In addition to OTI, the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 has been endorsed by over 400 organizations in industry (ISPs and trade groups alike), state/local/tribal governments, public interest groups, and community-based organizations who represent millions of Americans.

The following can be attributed to Chhaya Kapadia, Chief of Staff at the Open Technology Institute at New America.

“Funding for ACP is not merely a nice-to-have—it is a critical social and economic investment that brings access to jobs, educational opportunities, improved health, and other essential resources that people need to thrive in our digital economy and society. One in every six American households currently depend on ACP to afford their broadband internet, and more than double that number are eligible but not yet enrolled in the program. The ACP is working, and with the passage of this bill it can go much farther—if we give it a chance.”