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Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) funding is expected to last through April 2024, running out completely in May, barring further Congressional appropriations. Without funding to continue, this critical broadband connectivity program must cease accepting new enrollments early next month.
The ACP is the largest and most successful broadband affordability program in our nation’s history. Nearly 23 million households across rural, suburban and urban America rely on the ACP to pay for the high-speed internet service they need for school, work, healthcare and more. The ACP supports eligible low-income households struggling to afford monthly broadband service.
The FCC last week released an order detailing the wind-down of the ACP, which will stop accepting new enrollments on February 7, 2024. By January 25, broadband providers will send an initial notice to all of their ACP subscribers that previews the possible end of the ACP and the impact on the households’ broadband bills once the ACP benefit is no longer available.
ACP funding is currently expected to last through April with only partial support available in May 2024. After the FCC announces the official final month of ACP funding, ACP providers must send at least two more notices to households informing them that the ACP is ending, how and when the end of the ACP will impact their bill, and that they may opt-out of continuing service after the end of the ACP or change their service.
However, to address the issue, the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act was introduced in Congress last week. If adopted, the legislation would provide $7 billion for the ACP.
“Our members are competitive providers who are bringing faster, more affordable internet to communities across the country," said INCOMPAS President Angie Kronenberg. "We’ve heard directly from them that the ACP has been a huge driver for deployment and has connected millions of households across the country. With the program in danger of running out of funding, we wholeheartedly support this piece of legislation to ensure it continues. Connectivity should not be a partisan issue; we urge all Members of Congress to recognize the immense value that connectivity brings not only to individuals but to our society as a whole and swiftly fund this program.”
Informational ACP Wind-Down Webinars This Week
As part of the FCC’s quarterly ACP engagement, the Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau will host its regular webinar briefing this week:
The briefings will provide the latest updates regarding the ACP Wind-Down Order, information on what the FCC’s outreach partners can expect in the near future and potential ways in which we can work together to boost awareness of the FCC’s ongoing work. The FCC will welcome questions for a Q&A session as part of the webinar. Submit your questions by emailing them to acpinfo@fcc.gov. For more information about the ACP, visit www.fcc.gov/acp.
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