The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ended the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a pandemic-era subsidy that helped low-income Americans afford internet service, after the House failed to approve additional funding. As the expiration of ACP funding approached, major internet providers including T-Mobile, Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, and Charter announced new special deals for former ACP recipient households. These offers either extend the benefit through lower prices or provide new services at reduced costs. Additionally, internet providers have agreed to continue discounted plans through the end of 2024. The expiration of the ACP funding has significant implications for rural and underserved communities, where residents may lose access to emergency services, farming concerns may lose critical information, and healthcare providers may be cut off from telehealth or patient records.
FCC ends the Affordable Connectivity Program, which helped low-income Americans afford internet service, after the House failed to approve additional funding (@b_fung / CNN) https://t.co/GwZJcVKlGG π« Subscribe: https://t.co/OyWeKSRpIM https://t.co/xjbtk3osrU
A pandemic-era internet subsidy is officially ending https://t.co/3bTzNZNx46
Internet providers agree to continue discounted plans through end of 2024 as federal subsidies end. https://t.co/I2iDhSuoUq
As the expiration of ACP funding approached, T-Mobile, Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, and Charter have all announced new special deals for former ACP recipient households. These offers either extend the benefit through lower prices or provide new services at reduced costs. https://t.co/dWF4yc4dnf
"A sizeable portion of this ISPβs service area covers rural or underserved communities; places where residents may have lost access to emergency services, farming concerns may have lost critical [info]... and health care providers cut off from telehealth or patientsβ records." https://t.co/fNjYWesubp