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In today’s world, reliable access to the internet has become a fundamental necessity for communities to survive and for individuals to have a fair chance at a better life. Connected communities offer their residents educational and health related resources, employment opportunities, infinite amounts of information at their fingertips and the ability to connect well beyond physical borders. Unfortunately, many areas in our great country do not have the equitable access they need to share in the opportunities and benefits offered by our connected modern world, a reality which became glaringly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. This digital inequality is also too often found in rural and low-income communities, who fall further behind every disconnected day and suffer irreparable damage as a result.
In late 2021, Congress passed bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the lack of access to the internet by disadvantaged rural, urban, and tribal communities, creating the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Through specific subsidies directed to low-income households, millions of Americans were given access to reliable internet services at considerably more affordable rates and in some qualifying cases, at no cost. In the State of Florida alone, over one million Floridians have been connected online, some for the very first time in their lives.
The success of the program is due in part by a market driven approach, with the above-mentioned subsidies offered to eligible individuals rather than the service providers, and therefore allowing the former to choose the plan and provider ideal for each household. This program structure also serves to foster competition amongst participating providers, letting the recipients opt out of a plan that may not be performing reliably, and transfer their respective voucher to another service. By allowing these low-income households to gain control of their situation, they begin to benefit from and are empowered with the same opportunities as connected communities, which can lead to the development of new skills, enhancement of their respective employability, and invite them to contribute more effectively to society. The ACP has also opened the doors for individuals from low-income communities to have equitable access to vital healthcare services.
With all its success, the Affordable Connectivity Program is at peril of running out of funding by early to mid-2024. In order for the millions of Americans who have gain economic independence and improved their quality of life through reliable access to the internet, it is imperative that members of Congress act responsibility and sensibly to provide the necessary funding necessary for so many to remain connected. The additional funding should serve as an investment which will almost certainly offer exponential returns in the future and continue to foster American exceptionalism for generations to come.
