On July 30th, U.S. Representative Mike Carey (OH-15) and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) introduced bipartisan legislation to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) -a federal program that helped low-income households afford access to high-speed internet. The Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act provides $7 billion to restore the program that provides a $30 per month discount off internet service. Bi-partisan companion legislation (S. 4317) has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Ben Ray Lujan (NM), J.D. Vance (OH), Peter Welch (VT), Roger Wicker (MS) and Jacky Rosen (NV).
The ACP was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ran out of funding in May affecting over 23 million American households that utilized the subsidy to bring needed connectivity into their homes.
More information can be found in Representative Carey’s Press release. RCRC will be working with our federal lobbyist, ACG, to assess opportunities to engage.