John,

Congress has just days left to ensure proper funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) or else more than 22 million low-income people are at risk of losing their internet access.¹

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us all how critically important internet access is to how we connect to each other and the world around us. Many of us worked remotely, used video conferencing to connect with co-workers and family members, relied on the internet to access much-needed nutrition assistance and the expanded Child Tax Credit, and children needed internet access to attend virtual school and do homework.

According to a 2021 study by Pew Research Center, out of parents whose childs’ school was closed during the pandemic, 27% said their child had to do homework on a cell phone, 16% couldn’t do school work because they had no access to a computer at home, and 14% had to use a public wifi connection because theirs wasn’t reliable at home.² Black and Hispanic households are disproportionately impacted by lack of broadband access, and 18% of Native people living on Tribal land have no access to the internet.³ But the ACP has made significant improvements, reaching one in four African American and Latino households⁴ and enrolling 320,000 households on Tribal lands―important progress.⁵

If Congress doesn’t act fast and approve additional funding for the ACP, we will end up leaving entire communities behind. We cannot allow that to happen.

Rush a donation to power our campaign demanding Congress renew funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program now, before funding runs out this month.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately:

Thank you for all that you do,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ If Congress doesn’t act now many Americans might lose broadband access
² Parents, their children and school during the pandemic
³ Tribal Technology Assessment
⁴ Georgetown University McDonough School of Business: What Do the Early Data Indicate About the Affordable Connectivity Program?
⁵ Indigenous Digital Sovereignty: From the Digital Divide to Digital Equity

-- DEBORAH'S EMAIL --

John,

The internet is our gateway to the rest of the world. It’s how we connect with friends and family who live far away, apply for jobs, perform our jobs, receive online medical care, and pay bills; students use it to complete homework assignments; families need the internet to access important benefits such as SNAP and tax credits.

But for millions of people, access to broadband technology and the internet has been extremely limited. Thankfully, a federal program was created to help reduce the digital divide. But that funding will run out this month if Congress doesn’t act.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was passed in 2021 to provide households with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty line with a monthly stipend of $30 ($75 for Native people living on Tribal lands) to help ensure internet access to all. With funding running out, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)—which runs the program—has stopped taking new subscribers and has sent letters to current program participants about the impending reduction of their monthly benefit.¹

Congress must act now. Internet access is such an integral part of our everyday lives that people should not be without it simply due to their income. That’s why we’ve sent tens of thousands of messages to Congress in just the last two days, demanding action. And we’re rallying our national allies to keep the pressure on.

Rush a donation of $5 today to fund our fight for accessible internet for all.

There is strong bipartisan support for continued funding of the ACP. U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and U.S. Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, which would provide $7 billion in funding for the ACP.² President Biden has also called for increased funding for the program in his FY2025 budget and Representative Clarke is pushing to get a funding extension through the House via a “discharge petition”.³

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a lifeline for families living in urban and rural areas, and military families—nearly half of whom are enrolled.

Donate $5 today to help us keep the pressure on Congress to renew funding for this critical program before it’s too late.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately:

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ Funding shortfall forces FCC to slash monthly broadband benefits in May
² Welch, Vance, Rosen, Cramer, Clarke and Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Extension of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to Continue Closing the Digital Divide
³ Rep. Clarke Files Discharge Petition to Force a Floor Vote on Measure to Extend Funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program