The Affordable Connectivity Program will provide monthly subsidies of $30 ($75 in tribal areas) on Internet service for millions of households.
The Biden administration announced Monday that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to low-income people, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy. .
The $1 trillion infrastructure package passed by Congress last year included $14.2 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides monthly subsidies of $30 ($75 in tribal areas) on internet service for millions of low-income households.
With the new commitment from Internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed service, making Internet service fully paid for by the government subsidy if they subscribe to one of the providers participating in the program.
Biden, during his run for the White House and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed Internet access in low-income and rural areas a priority. He has spoken repeatedly about low-income families who struggled to find reliable WiFi so their children could participate in remote education and complete schoolwork early in the coronavirus pandemic.
“If we didn’t know before, we know now: High-speed Internet is essential,” the Democratic president said during a White House event last month honoring the National Teacher of the Year.
The 20 Internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80 percent of the US population lives, including 50 percent of the rural population, according to the White House. Participating businesses serving tribal lands offer rates of $75, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were scheduled to meet Monday with telecommunications executives, members of Congress and others to highlight the effort to improve high-speed Internet access for low-income households.
Providers are Allo Communications, AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications ), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber, and Wow! Internet, Cable and Television.
American households are eligible to receive subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program if their income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits.