A recent roundtable in Galesburg, Illinois, highlighted the critical importance of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which benefits 1 in 5 households in the region by providing essential access to work, study, and health care. Meanwhile, the FCC is gearing up for a significant vote on April 25 to reconsider net neutrality rules, amidst debates on the best way to ensure broadband competition. The FCC's decision not to impose Universal Service Fees on broadband has sparked controversy, especially as Congress had allocated $90 billion to bridge the digital divide by connecting 7.2 million Americans without high-speed internet. A federal program assisting approximately 23 million Americans with free or discounted high-speed internet faces drastic cuts in May, reducing the broadband subsidy payout to $14 per month, under half of the current rate. This has prompted concerns among low-income families about potential price hikes or loss of service. Additionally, new FCC rules aim to enhance transparency around internet pricing and fees, while a funding shortfall has forced the FCC to slash monthly broadband benefits. Public advocates are actively seeking to reverse the FCC's decision to exempt broadband providers from contributing to telecommunications subsidies, even as the commission moves to reinstate net neutrality rules treating them as telecom providers. Companies like AT&T and Charter have yet to detail their response.
Public advocates are scrambling to reverse a FCC decision sparing broadband providers from helping pay for telecommunications subsidies even after the commission resurrects net neutrality rules that classify them as telecom providers. https://t.co/x2TncK3BsQ https://t.co/lBM0J05fLj
$T $VZ $CHTR $CMCSA Funding shortfall forces FCC to slash monthly broadband benefits in May - WaPo https://t.co/205RtowvnO
New FCC rules require internet providers to be more transparent about pricing and fees https://t.co/jU5zaEdBM7
The FCC plans to cut its broadband subsidy payout to $14 per month, under half of the current rate; AT&T, Charter, and others are yet to detail their response (@tonyromm / Washington Post) https://t.co/WUzdopCpmF 📫 Subscribe: https://t.co/OyWeKSRpIM https://t.co/5xX4JSEuLn
A federal program that has helped roughly 23 million Americans receive free or heavily discounted high-speed internet is set to see sharp cuts in May, leaving many low-income families facing possible price hikes or the imminent loss of service altogether. https://t.co/REjqrDzJnp
Coming out of the pandemic, Congress designated $90 billion to connect the 7.2 million Americans who don't have high-speed internet -- and hopefully close the digital divide for good. This kicks off @CNET's Digital Divide 2024 series! More to come. https://t.co/2Bg85PW7FE
FCC Chair Rejects Call To Impose Universal Service Fees on Broadband https://t.co/jnOFGtn18M
As the @FCC takes on a two-decade old fight with a vote on 4/25 to reimpose #NetNeutrality rules, @CTATech reiterates its long-standing position that robust #broadband competition for every consumer, not heavy-handed regulation is the answer. https://t.co/7IjSgksqJ8
Galesburg, Illinois was the site of an important roundtable on the importance of the Affordable Connectivity Program. It's a lifeline for 1 in 5 households in #IL17. Access to work, study, and health care is at stake! Let's find bipartisan solutions to keep it running. https://t.co/Urgw4V839N