Dear Community Partner,

Broadband network connectivity has been a critical—sometimes the only—means of providing essential services like health care and education and keeping commerce rolling during the COVID-19 crisis. Yet, the share of households on tribal lands with internet access is 21% lower than in neighboring non-tribal areas. In addition, download speeds are approximately 75% slower in tribal regions than in non-tribal areas, while the price for basic internet services in tribal areas is 11% higher.

Similarly, in 2019, the Pew Research Center found that only 63% of rural Americans have internet access at home. Providing internet access in urban areas is easy because there are numerous service providers, fiber connections and cable internet. Expanding internet access for rural areas is a different story. Among the rural-specific challenges that internet service providers need to overcome are physical barriers (trees, hills, etc.) and cost-effectiveness.

On Dec. 31, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act added $14.2 billion for the ACP, while leaving the Emergency Broadband Benefit’s basic framework in place. But the law also made some critical changes.

Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 20, when Consumer Action will host a free webinar on the Affordable Connectivity Program for rural and tribal lands. The presentation will feature speakers Olivia Wein, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center; Derik Goatson, legal advisor in the Office of Native Affairs Policy at the Federal Communications Commission; and a speaker from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).

The webinar will cover:

• An overview of the ACP enhanced tribal benefit
• Tribal lands that qualify for enhanced benefits, including which Alaska Native regions and Hawaiian Home Lands
• An overview of tribal-specific programs that qualify households for the ACP
• The income guidelines that qualify households for the ACP
• The difference between ACP and Lifeline—and if can you stack the benefits
• What consumer protections are offered by the ACP, and how to file a complaint
• Resources and tool kits for consumers

AFC professionals can earn 1.5 CEUs for participation in this free, 90-minute webinar.

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT (11:00 a.m. MT; 12:00 p.m. CT; 1:00 p.m. ET)
Click here to register.

If you have questions for our guest speakers, please send them to [email protected] by Sept. 14. We want to hear from you! Also, please email me with any questions regarding the webinar.

We look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Linda Williams
Community Outreach and Training Manager
Consumer Action