WASHINGTON (TND) — Advocates say millions could be left without internet if Congress does not pass funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The program helps low-income, senior, and rural households save $30-$75 on their monthly internet bills. According to the White House, 23 million households are enrolled.
“Our goal is to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet by the year 2030, everyone in America,” President Joe Biden said last month.
In the 21st century, affordable, reliable high-speed internet is critical in order to access education, healthcare, and work, engage in precision agriculture, and keep in touch with loved ones. Still, too many are left without high-speed internet because they lack the infrastructure or are inhibited by high costs. In particular, these inequities impact underserved communities, rural communities, veterans, and older Americans where the lack of affordable, reliable high-speed internet contributes to significant economic, health and other disparities. Thanks to the Affordable Connectivity Program, the Administration has made historic progress toward closing the digital divide for communities that have been left behind for too long,” the Biden Administration said in a statement.
The program has bipartisan support, but some GOP lawmakers are concerned people who don’t need the money are getting it. There are also concerns that the government is overspending at the same time when the nation’s debt is over $34 trillion.
“They may be perfectly well-intentioned. I’m not disparaging any of the people who are advocating for this and similar programs,” explained EJ Antoni, a public finance economist for the Heritage Foundation. “The fact remains that the more the government spends, the more people are going to have to pay for it one way or another.”
Tish Kimble is frustrated over the possibility of the program shutting down because it is something she says she needs.
Just the point of going from $0 of paying internet probably to about $80 of internet, that’s going to be sad for me,” she explained on TikTok. “Government, don’t do this to me.
The Biden Administration has asked Congress for $6 billion for the program, but if this doesn’t happen, the program is expected to end in April.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
