Lawmakers and advocates make last-ditch push to extend affordable internet subsidy

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Subsidies,United States Government,Peter Welch

Millions of families will face bigger internet bills starting in May because a federal broadband subsidy program is set to expire. The Affordable Connectivity Program provided families $30 a month toward their internet bills. The White House has pushed for an extension but it has not happened so far.

Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., speaking about the Affordable and Connectivity Program, ACP, at the Shaw Library in Washington, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Advocacy groups and policymakers are pushing for Congress to fully fund the ACP, because April 2024 marks the last month of full funding. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., is seen leaving after speaking about the Affordable and Connectivity Program at the Shaw Library in Washington, Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

The Affordable Connectivity Program, which Congress created with $14.2 billion through the bipartisan infrastructure law, provided qualifying households with a subsidy of $30 a month to help pay their internet bills. Households on tribal land received up to $75.Mississippi lawmakers expected to vote on Medicaid expansion plan with work requirementstarting in May, when enrolled households will only receive partial credits toward their internet bills.

Nearly 80 percent of households enrolled in the program said they would have to switch to a lower-tier plan or cancel their internet service altogether without the benefit, according to a survey conducted by the FCC at the end of 2023. Many have come to depend on internet access to complete homework assignments, work from home and meet other basic needs.

 

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