Future Forum Urges Speaker Johnson to Extend Funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Future Forum Caucus urged Speaker Mike Johnson to extend funding and continue subsidized broadband connectivity through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Future Forum members who signed the letter include Co-Chair Rep. Soto, Co-Chair Rep. Stevens, Co-Chair Rep. Allred, Co-Chair Rep. Pettersen, Rep. Amo, Rep. Castro, Rep. Deluzio, Rep. Frost, Rep. Gomez, Rep. Jacobs, Rep. Kilmer, Rep. Levin, Rep. Menendez, Rep. Ramirez, Rep. Scholten, and Rep. Tokuda.
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides millions of young Americans access to the affordable broadband services they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Unless Congress provides additional funding by May, households enrolled in ACP who have relied on affordable access to internet and broadband will no longer be enrolled in the program. It is estimated that over 23 million households are currently enrolled and have received the monthly discount.
Future Forum Co-Chair Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) and member Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL-10) hosted an event in Central Florida to showcase the impact that ending the Affordable Connectivity Program would have on their community. They were joined by Whip Katherine Clark, Heart of Florida United Way, and Corporal Nilsson Garcia, a local veteran who shared the impact that the ACP has had on his daily life.
The text of the letter can be found below.
Dear Speaker Johnson, As members of the Future Forum Caucus, we write to urge you to extend funding and continue subsidized broadband connectivity through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) immediately. April is the last fully funded month for the ACP. Beginning in May, households enrolled in ACP who have relied on affordable access to internet and broadband will no longer be enrolled in the program.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is the nation’s largest broadband affordability program. The program has been an essential tool in efforts to eliminate the digital divide in America since it was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Since 2021, the ACP has provided 23 million households with a monthly discount on broadband service of up to $30 per month and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers, if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Last December, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conducted a survey of ACP recipients to measure the program’s impact. The topline finding of this survey is that for many ACP recipients, the monthly subsidy of internet access has become a necessity. More than two thirds of subscribers had inconsistent connectivity or zero connectivity at all before they enrolled in ACP and said losing ACP support would disrupt their service or cause them to drop internet service entirely.
Students with limited or no internet access face barriers to academic success, collegiate prospects, and their career trajectory. For ACP subscribers aged 18-24, 75 percent reported that they rely on their internet service to do schoolwork. Based on a national survey of ACP participants conducted by Benenson Strategy Group using survey information provided by the FCC, 81% of ACP parents worry about their children falling behind in school.
The ACP has been instrumental in bridging the digital gap, empowering young participants, and enhancing their educational and economic opportunities. It is essential for Congress to expeditiously extend funding for this critical program to ensure continued access to affordable high-speed internet. The introduction of the bicameral, bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 (H.R. 6929/S. 3565) would add $7 billion in additional funding while Congress considers more stable funding for affordable internet access. Reliable and affordable internet access has become essential for all households.
As more and more of our society and economy move into the digital realm, access to broadband has become a determining factor in the creation of economic opportunity in rural and urban communities alike. Broadband connectivity is vital for work, school, health care, and living in the 21st century, yet it is under threat with the sunsetting of the ACP.
The Future Forum Caucus is committed to advocating for affordable access to broadband for young Americans and households who need internet access. Protecting and preserving The Affordable Connectivity Program is crucial for continued American success. As the FCC is quickly winding down the ACP, we look forward to working with you to address this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
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About Future Forum Congressional Caucus: Established in 2015, Future Forum is a generational caucus composed of 53 members from a diverse cross-section of the Democratic Caucus who are 50 years and younger. Future Forum represents the next generation of leaders in Congress and includes members of all ideological and identity caucuses in the House, members of the Democratic leadership, and the first Gen Z Member of Congress.
To learn more about Future Forum: https://futureforumcaucus-allred.house.gov/