Around 50 million Americans were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic’s company closures and lockdowns, so the ‘Affordable Connectivity Program’ is offered.
As everything migrated to virtual platforms, Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put in place appropriate measures to help struggling families stay connected.
Affordable Connectivity Program Benefits For All
During the pandemic, broadband connection was essential since it let individuals to work, learn, and obtain healthcare online.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was given a $14 billion investment through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), enabling it to quickly sign up over 14 million homes.
Due to its direct-to-consumer strategy, this program may be the most effective broadband assistance campaign to date.
For internet access, qualified households can get a monthly discount of up to $30 (up to $75 for households living on tribal territories), as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 when buying a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
Policymakers can learn important lessons from this cutting-edge initiative as they look into long-term, sustainable funding sources to ensure its sustainability.
The ACP’s design integrates a number of suggestions from researchers and policy professionals, placing an emphasis on a consumer-centered model that offers additional options.
Read more: How To Receive $100 In Affordable Connectivity Program, Buy Products?
Funding and Sustainability Considerations
ACP participants are unrestricted in their ability to choose the broadband package that best suits them, regardless of their credit standing or past provider debt.
Additionally, the ACP is available to everyone and enables recipients to change providers and plans without being charged early termination fees.
There is already considerable consensus across party lines regarding the requirement for broadband aid to support American citizens with modest incomes. The precise path of action in Congress is not yet obvious, though.
Paul Garnett, according to Forbes, predicts that the ACP will run out of money by the middle of 2024 if the current patterns continue.
If these trends continue, it may cost $30–35 billion to finance the ACP’s broadband benefit (excluding devices) for an extra five years.
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