Members of Maine’s Congressional delegation recently moved in support of extending the lifespan of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a program originally enacted in November of 2021.
The ACP — a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — represented a $14.2 billion modification to the existing Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program).
Under the program, eligible low-income households can receive up to $30 per month off of their internet bill, while households on qualifying Tribal Lands may receive as much as $75 per month. One-time grants are also available for the purchase of laptops, desktop computers, or tablets.
Last November Gov. Janet Mills (D) called for the ACP’s extension alongside twenty-five other governors nationwide, including twenty-one Democrats, four Republicans, and one New Progressive, asking Congressional leadership to “work collaboratively with the Biden Administration to ensure” that the ACP receives additional funding.
In January of this year, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) expressed her support for $7 billion extension of the ACP represented by the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 (S.3565), of which she was a co-sponsor alongside more than 200 other representatives.
This bill’s counterpart in the Senate was co-sponsored by Sen. Angust King (I) and thirty other lawmakers.
[RELATED: Chellie Pingree Supports $7 Billion Extension of Affordable Connectivity Program]
“In Maine, many seniors rely on internet access for telehealth appointments, paying bills, or staying connected to loved ones – and young students need it for help in their homework and studies,” Sen. King said in a statement Monday.
“The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act ensures that Maine people will not lose the monthly discount that, for many, is the difference between digital darkness and staying connected,” said King. “Providing reliable, affordable connection is essential to the health and well-being of countless people throughout the state.”
Click Here to Read Sen. King’s Full Statement
This past Friday, Rep. Pingree announced that she had joined a group of more than a hundred other lawmakers in calling for the legislative leadership to include funding for the ACP in the upcoming legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Click Here to Read Rep. Pingree’s Full Statement
“With over 23 million American households enrolled, the program has been instrumental in providing affordable broadband access across rural, suburban, and urban areas to low-income households,” the letter said. “While certain bipartisan reforms to the program are necessary to improve efficiency and effectiveness, it is the most vulnerable families across the nation that will bear the burden of our inaction if funding lapses.”
“Additionally, a sudden loss of access for millions of Americans will place additional strain on other government programs as they become inundated with requests that were previously accessible online,” the lawmakers continued.
“We must move quickly to secure the short-term future of this widely-supported program,” the letter continued. “Preserving the ACP will ensure that millions of Americans will maintain access essential resources for work, education, healthcare, and more.”
“Including this funding in must-pass FAA legislation will allow Congress the time needed to reach consensus on reforms and a long-term, sustainable funding solution,” said the lawmakers.
Click Here to Read the Full Letter Sent to Congressional Leadership
According to a fact sheet provided by the Biden Administration, an estimated 95,836 households across the state are enrolled in the program, a population comprised of 35,812 households in CD 1 and 60,134 in CD 2.
More than 230,000 households are estimated to be eligible for ACP benefits statewide.
As of this past August, more than 20 million households nationwide had enrolled in the ACP.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="27932 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=27932">4 Comments
So, is internet access becoming “a basic human right”? Maybe Pingree and King should help fund this from their millions instead of taking it from my wallet!
Oh wow, Pingree and King are waking up and plundering our wallets to buy votes. It must an election year for both of them.
In other news the rotten turd Pingree voted against the bill “Detain and Deport”. A bill that would deport non citizens who assault police. Unbelievable.
“…eligible low-income households can receive up to $30 per month off of their internet bill, while households on qualifying Tribal Lands may receive as much as $75 per month.”
This bill is racist! Indians get more than me. Not fair. These two never miss an opportunity to spend your money. Of course it’s funny money printed up at the stroke of a computer button. What’s $14,000,000,000.00 when the gov’t is $34,000,000,000,000.00 in debt. The train wreck presses on.