NewDEAL Forum Urges Congress to Pass ACP Extension Act
For Immediate Release:
January 10, 2024
Contact: Jonathon Dworkin (NewDEAL), 202-660-1340 x5, jonathon@newdealleaders.org
NewDEAL Forum Urges Congress to Pass ACP Extension Act
Broadband Task Force has implored Congress to prevent lapse in funding for critical broadband subsidy that is running out of money
Washington, D.C. – Today, a bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House and Senate introduced the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, which would ensure adequate funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) for 2024 by appropriating $7 billion for the broadband subsidy. According to the FCC, the ACP, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has helped nearly 23 million households nationwide afford high-speed internet, is projected to run out of money by April, with notices needing to be sent to customers before then. The NewDEAL Forum Broadband Task Force has implored Congress to act, recognizing the impact the ACP has had on the constituents of state and local policymakers across the country and the importance of the program for states in implementing other broadband provisions of the infrastructure law.
“I hope it is a no-brainer that every member of Congress would support this bipartisan effort to fund the ACP, which has proven to be critical in rural communities, urban centers, and everywhere in between,” said NewDEAL Forum CEO Debbie Cox Bultan. “Before anyone loses their internet access, Congress must act to shore up this crucial program, either as stand-alone legislation or as part of a broader funding agreement.”
“Access to affordable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for millions of Americans to fully participate in today's digital economy,” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist (MI); Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (NC); and Commissioner Dana Barrett (Fulton County, GA), co-chairs of the Forum’s Broadband Task Force, wrote to Congress in October, 2023, in support of continued ACP funding. “ACP is a vital initiative that prevented millions of Americans from falling behind economically during the pandemic, and it is essential to the progress of other federal broadband investments and the ongoing pursuit of digital equity.”
The ACP Extension Act was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT), JD Vance (R-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and in the House of Representatives by Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
About NewDEAL Forum
The NewDEAL Forum is a Washington D.C. based non-profit organization which identifies and promotes innovative, future-oriented state and local pro-growth progressive policies that can improve the lives of all Americans. By facilitating the identification and spread of policy ideas, the NewDEAL Forum seeks to foster economic growth, reduce barriers to opportunity, and promote good government in communities throughout the country.
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