ACLU, Civil-Society Groups, Urge Congress to Extend Funding for Affordable Internet Program
Without additional funding, the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides government subsidies for internet to tens of millions of Americans, will expire.
WASHINGTON — Today, the ACLU joined a coalition of 270 civil-society groups and local, state and tribal governments to send a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives urging its members to sign a discharge petition (H.R. 1119) filed by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D–NY) in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Extension Act. The legislation would provide an additional $7 billion to save a successful broadband-subsidy.
The ACP will end in a matter of weeks if Congress doesn’t provide additional funding. The program, created as part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure package, helps connect more than 23 million low-income U.S. households. Today, more than 1 in 6 U.S. households can afford their broadband connection because of the ACP. But, in a few weeks, the ACP subsidy will be reduced and those households will face an increase in their bill. In June, the program will end completely.
“Time is running out. Congress must act immediately to keep their constituents connected to the internet,” said Jenna Leventoff, ACLU senior policy counsel. “For the majority of ACP recipients, an increase in their internet bill will interrupt their ability to access the service. Internet access is too important to lose. Congress must pass the ACP Extension Act now.”
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