FCC Brings Affordable Connectivity Program to a Close

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said on Friday that due to a lack of additional Congressional funding, the agency would officially end the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) on Saturday, June 1. The agency had already imposed an enrollment freeze in early February, to help with the accurate forecasting of funding exhaustion and to smooth the administration of the ACP’s end.  

During the ACP wind-down, Chairwoman Rosenworcel sent monthly letters to Congress stressing the importance of the program and the need for additional funding to keep the program going. In a new letter to lawmakers, Rosenworcel highlighted the need to support low-income families nationwide who struggle to pay for high-speed internet service. She also outlined the steps the Commission has taken to soften the impact that the end of the ACP will have on enrolled households. 

“The Affordable Connectivity Program filled an important gap that provider low-income programs, state and local affordability programs, and the Lifeline program cannot fully address,” said Rosenworcel. “The Commission is available to provide any assistance Congress may need to support funding the ACP in the future and stands ready to resume the program if additional funding is provided.”

Agency wind-down measures have included: 

1. encouraging ACP providers, for which participation in the ACP was voluntary, to develop low-income programs of their own and to provide their ACP subscribers information on their low-income programs or low-cost plans; 
2. offering training and resources for state public utility commissions and agency ACP grantees and outreach partners to raise awareness of the Commission’s Lifeline program; and
3. reminding current Lifeline providers of their requirement to publicize the Lifeline program.  

The Lifeline program offers a $9.25 monthly benefit on broadband service for eligible households. Although the Lifeline benefit may alleviate some financial pressure for certain ACP households, it is not a replacement for the ACP. Not all ACP households will qualify for Lifeline, and by statute, many ACP providers are not eligible to participate in the Lifeline program.