ACP Expires in April, Risking Affordable Internet Access For More Than 276,000 Nevada Households

March 16, 2024 - WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led a group of 33 of her colleagues in urging Senate leadership to include funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) as part of future must-pass legislation, including the next government funding package. The ACP helps lower high-speed internet costs for more than 276,000 Nevada households. Earlier this month, Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel notified Congress that funding for the program will run out at the end of April, causing families to see higher internet costs. As one of the lead authors of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s high-speed internet provisions, Senator Rosen helped create the ACP to lower costs for Nevadans and increase high-speed internet connectivity.

“We write to urge you to take immediate action to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program,” wrote the senators. “Both of these programs are vital for closing the digital divide, by making connectivity affordable to millions of working families and ensuring providers are able to continue serving rural communities.”

“A lapse in ACP funding will therefore limit the positive impact of Congress’ historic $42 billion investment in connecting every unserved American under the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program,” they continued. “Taking immediate action to continue funding ACP today is essential to keep Americans connected while this important work is done to enact meaningful improvements, limit waste, fraud, and abuse, and identify a long-term funding mechanism for the program.”

The full text of the letter can be found HERE. 

Senator Rosen has been leading efforts to lower costs and expand high-speed internet access across Nevada. Earlier this year, she helped introduce the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act to allocate $7 billion for ACP and ensure qualifying households across the U.S. have access to affordable high-speed internet. In October, Senator Rosen also led a group of 31 colleagues in urging Congressional leaders to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. Last June, she announced that Nevada would receive over $43.5 million to increase high-speed internet access as a result of her Middle Mile Broadband Deployment Act. Senator Rosen also successfully pressed the Federal Communications Commission to fix their deeply flawed broadband maps, resulting in more than $416 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s BEAD Program coming to Nevada to connect families to high-speed internet.
Source: Senator Jacky Rosen