Bipartisan Bill Proposes $7 Billion to Extend FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program

Without additional funding, the program, which currently serves nearly 23 million households, could exhaust its budget by April, disrupting internet access for millions.

US lawmakers have proposed a bipartisan bill to allocate $7 billion in additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides monthly discounts on internet service for low-income households.
The ACP, which currently serves nearly 23 million households, is set to run out of funding by the end of April, potentially disrupting internet access to an estimated 25 million homes.
The ACP was first created in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law with an initial, one-time $14 billion allocation, and replaced a similar pandemic-era initiative known as the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
Despite broad support for the program, the bill to extend the ACP faces an uncertain future, particularly in the House, due to concerns about government spending.
The ACP also provides eligible households with a one-time discount of up to $100 off the price of a laptop, tablet or other electronic device.