FCC - ACP likely out of funds by April

Although recent legislation would keep the ACP going through the end of the year, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is preparing for the worst case. The FCC is expected to release guidance soon on the wind-down of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). In a letter to legislators, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel urged Congress to act on additional funding for the program, which has helped 22 million income-qualified Americans get online. The Biden Administration has asked for an additional $6 billion to fund the program through the end of 2024. As it stands, the ACP is likely to be out of money by the end of April or early May.

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"If Congress does not provide additional funding for the ACP in the near future, millions of households will lose the ACP benefity that they use to afford internet service. This also means that roughly 1,700 internet service providers will be affected by the termination of the ACP and may cut off service to households no longer supported by the program."​

The FCC wind-down guidance will inform providers on the requirements for notifying customers about the ACP's demise, and a date where new ACP enrollments will end. Organizations that have been assisting people with ACP enrollment (including CBAN under our Digital Navigator Program) will also directed to begin wrapping up their programs. That includes dozens of entities that received grants last spring to promote ACP. Fortunately for CBAN, our Digital Navigator program grant from the NDIA is not specific to ACP enrollment and will continue until August of 2025.