The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that more than 20 million households have enrolled in the agency’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) – the nation’s largest broadband affordability program.
The ACP, funded by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, offers eligible low-income households a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service and up to $75 per month for eligible 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.
“For a long time, closing the digital divide focused on one part of the equation – the lack of physical infrastructure to get online. But we know that for many people, even when there was technically access, the cost to get online was too high. Thanks to investments from Congress, we have new tools to tackle both challenges, including the Affordable Connectivity Program that is helping struggling families to get or stay online to pay for this modern-day necessity,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
“Enrolling more than 20 million eligible households is no small feat – and wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of organizations in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the country who are getting the word about this powerful program,” she said. “We’ve made too much progress in helping families get online to turn back now.”
The FCC credited the enrollment milestone to the agency’s efforts to heavily engage local, state, and Federal organizations to serve as ACP outreach and awareness-raising partners. The FCC noted that to date, the commission has hosted or participated in more than 1,400 virtual and in-person awareness and enrollment events, and offers outreach materials in more than 10 languages.
