A government program is about to expire, and it could mean that your internet costs are going to rise.
With the cost of living on the rise, every little bit of assistance goes a long way. Whether it be a bit of help from a friend, or a full-on government program designed to lower the cost of necessities, people rely on this kind of assistance to get by in life.
Unfortunately, one such government program is about to end, and your internet costs could increase as a result.
Affordable Connectivity Program Ends Due to Lack of Funding
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a government assistance initiative designed to help low-income families afford the high cost of an internet connection. The program helped to lower the cost by as much as $30 per month for many families, with even bigger savings for indigenous families.
When it passed, it had virtually complete bipartisan support, passing easily to help families access the internet across the country.
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Unfortunately, while the program has run successfully for the last two and a half years, funding has now run out, with April 2024 being the last month of the program being fully financial supported. Congress was unable to agree on additional funding, and as a result, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided it must end the program.
How to Know If Your Internet Costs Will Go Up
As a likely home internet user yourself, it’s safe to assume that you’re a bit concerned about this news. After all, the decision from the FCC is reportedly going to absolutely impact the cost of internet for those enrolled in the program.
“Without intervention, households participating in the program will immediately see their internet bills go up. We know cost is a key barrier to connecting low-income families to the internet, so without ACP we can expect most participating households to either downgrade or drop their plans altogether.” – Kathryn de Wit, director of the Pew Charitable Trust’s broadband access initiative to CNN
There are 20 million low-income families that are enrolled in the ACP, which means they will all be impacted. However, if you haven’t applied for this kind of assistance, you have nothing to worry about, as the program is an opt-in situation, rather than a grander initiative to keep costs down for everyone.
Suffice to say, if you haven’t heard about the Affordable Connection Program before, your internet costs are safe.
The Importance of Internet Access
In 2024, it’s safe to say that a strong internet connection is as much a necessity as electricity. Without it, families wouldn’t be able to access financial resources, properly participate in school, or effectively work from home.
That’s why programs like this are so important. Granted, the Biden administration has done a surprisingly good job at providing internet access to those that can’t afford it, investing $65 billion over the last few years to make it more accessible, even in rural areas.
Still, with 20 million Americans poised to receive a much higher internet bill in June 2024, it’s clear that a bit more investment would go a long way.
