Internet access imperiled for 20 million people as federal program to expand coverage sunsets

According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), one in five households remains disconnected from the internet. As healthcare, commerce, banking, and educational opportunities move online, lacking an internet connection can create serious barriers. “While a majority – 58% – of the 24 million offline households express no interest or need to be online, there is also a large proportion who say they can’t afford home Internet service (18%),” reported the NTIA in 2022.

Under the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in 2021, lawmakers established the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to increase access to high-speed internet for residents of low-income households. For the vast majority of those eligible, a discount worth up to $30 is issued to bring down a household’s internet bill; some living on Tribal lands will be eligible for up to $75. Regardless, the funds are issued directly to the internet service provider, limiting the administrative burden for those eligible.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urged Congress for months to extend the funding to keep the program alive, but they did not listen. Now, a program that provides internet connection to more than twenty-three million people will sunset, which, according to the White House, would cost around $6 billion for the entire fiscal year in economic losses as these households are pushed offline. Additionally, some leaders on Capitol Hill have introduced legislation to fund the program further, but at this point, bringing such a bill to the floor in the House of Representatives, which is under Republican control, is unlikely.

Many program beneficiaries lived in rural areas with few internet service providers, allowing the companies that operate to have monopolistic price-setting control. The discount provided by the ACP allowed many households to overcome this financial burden. Today, the Internet is not a luxury, as explained by the federal Internet for All Initiative; it is “necessary,” and ensuring that all households are connected “doesn’t just help individuals.[...] It creates jobs and opportunities here in the United States. And it helps us connect to one another, building a stronger, more free society.”

April was the last month the program was fully funded, and it will be completely phased out over the coming months. The FAQ section on the initiative’s website warned those who applied after 8 February that their application would not be reviewed or considered since the funding cliff was approaching.

What other options are out there?

Lifeline is another program that might be available to those who qualify for the ACP. The eligibility requirements are similar, but the discount is only worth up to $9.25 per month($34.25 per month for those on Tribal lands). The discount can be applied to both if a beneficiary hopes to bundle their cell phone and home internet plan.

Those who had been enrolled in the ACP will not automatically be transferred into Lifeline. To register you must first identify the Lifeline provider operating in your state. Then, depending on whether or not the National Verifier online portal can confirm your eligibility, you may need to provide documentation that proves your eligibility. The Lifeline provider will inform you as to what can be provided in such cases.