By Chris Holden on June 15th, 2022
Top Photo: Adobe Stock
President Biden recently announced the launch of a new program that will help about 48 million low-income households in urban, suburban, and rural communities afford broadband internet service.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed the critical need for internet access. During the Affordable Connectivity Program’s (ACP) reveal at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, President Biden said that “High-speed internet is not a luxury any longer. It’s a necessity.
Biden pointed to the need for kids to do their school work remotely, mentioning families having to park at McDonalds to use a Wi-Fi connection. He also mentioned the critical role that telemedicine has played in keeping seniors safe and healthy during the pandemic.
The ACP was created as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed last November. In addition to money to repair roads and bridges, the funding package included $65 billion to expand access to broadband internet services everywhere in the country. Of these funds, $14.2 billion was reserved for the ACP so that low-income residents can afford the cost of broadband.
Low-income households qualified for the Affordable Connectivity Program can receive a $30 per month subsidy to pay for broadband internet service. This subsidy may be used for any internet service provider's (ISP) plan.
There are also 20 ISPs that have committed to offering discounted service plans for those using an ACP subsidy.
The participating service providers will offer $30 high-speed internet plans. This means that broadband service would be available even to households with the lowest incomes in participating areas.
Here is the list of ISPs offering a $30 high-speed internet plan:
The areas covered by these internet providers serve 80% of the U.S. population, including 50% of the rural population.
The Biden administration is working to encourage more companies to offer discounted broadband service plans.
Households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level qualify for an ACP subsidy. This is $55,500 for a family of four.
In addition, a household qualifies if any member participates in one of the following federal programs:
The Universal Service Administrative Company administers the ACP, with oversight from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). You can find more information about the program and how to apply on the FCC’s ACP website here.
There are two steps to enroll in the ACP and receive the $30 per month broadband subsidy:
FCC rules protect households using an ACP subsidy in several ways, including:
Know your rights as a Section 8 tenant.
In many areas, private landlords with an available unit can refuse interested tenants who have a Section 8 voucher. Check your local laws.Luann McCarthy says:
"There are many apartments to view on Affordable Housing Online."