Congress should reform broadband subsidies to address the remaining causes of the digital divide: affordability and digital literacy.

To Do: Reform Broadband Subsidies

The recent dramatic sea change in broadband funding must come with a shift in priorities as policymakers continue efforts to close the digital divide.

Congress Should Prioritize the Affordable Connectivity Program for Broadband Funding

People with the fewest resources stand to benefit the most from broadband connectivity, but the most effective subsidy program to bridge the gap between low-income consumers and broadband—the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)—is set to run out of money by 2024.

People Most Likely to Benefit From Connectivity Are Least Likely to Have Broadband; New Report Urges Steps to Reach Near-Universal Broadband Access

Congress created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2019 to bridge the digital divide. But there’s a problem: ACP’s funding will run out next summer.

Affordable Internet Is Jeopardized by Outdated Priorities

The United States has spent decades and billions of dollars to achieve universal broadband access. Yet the digital divide continues because many Americans still face barriers to affordability or lag in digital literacy. It’s time for a bold rethinking of broadband policy to match today’s realities.

Broadband Policies Are Wasting the Chance to Make America Connected

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is set to run out of money in 2024, and the most financially vulnerable U.S. households would bear the brunt of any lapses in ACP-funded plans.

New Report Urges Congress to Cut Redundant Broadband Programs Before the Affordable Connectivity Program’s Funds Run Out

New Report Urges Congress to Cut Redundant Broadband Programs Before the Affordable Connectivity Program's Funds Run Out

Despite largely unvarnished success—with over 16.8 million U.S. households enrolled—the ACP is expected to become insolvent as early as 2024 without a permanent wellspring of funding. Though extending its funding has strong support among registered voters of all political parties and demographic groups, its financial future is still undetermined, and with that, the future of those 17 million connected households remains up in the air.

Allowing the Affordable Connectivity Program to Lapse Helps Nobody

Momentum for an infrastructure package presents a tremendous opportunity to close the digital divide. Policymakers should avoid a political stalemate by eschewing utility-style broadband overbuilding and instead focus on pragmatic expansion of cost-effective, competitive networks.

Refining the Biden Broadband Proposal

In a time when broadband affordability plays a major role in the digital divide, the Affordable Connectivity Program meets an obvious need. Winding it down comes at the expense of every American relying on the program and of consumers’ trust in government agencies, digital inclusion groups, and Internet service providers.

To Do: Create a New and Improved Affordable Connectivity Program

Recommendation

Details

Editors’ Recommendations

A Blueprint for Broadband Affordability

Sustain Affordable Connectivity By Ending Obsolete Broadband Programs

Related

To Do: Reform Broadband Subsidies

Congress Should Prioritize the Affordable Connectivity Program for Broadband Funding

People Most Likely to Benefit From Connectivity Are Least Likely to Have Broadband; New Report Urges Steps to Reach Near-Universal Broadband Access