Congress Pursues Lifeline for Affordable Connectivity Program Amid Funding Crunch

Congress Proposes Solutions to Renew Affordable Connectivity Program Funding

New Bills Aim to Secure Future of Affordable Connectivity Program Amid Funding Crisis

According to PCMAG, The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is almost out of money, but Congress is trying to fix that with two new bills. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s bill, the Spectrum and National Security Act of 2024, wants to make more wireless spectrum available. They’d sell some of it and use $7 billion from the sale to fund the ACP.

This money would also help replace network equipment from Chinese vendors. On the other hand, Sen. John Fetterman‘s bill, the Promoting Affordable Connectivity Act of 2024, wants to keep funding the ACP by expanding the FCC’s Universal Service Fund. They’d raise $25 billion from fees on broadband providers and big tech companies like Meta and Google.

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Congress Pursues Lifeline for Affordable Connectivity Program Amid Funding Crunch (PHOTO: PCmag)

Congress Grapples with Short-Term Solution for Affordable Connectivity Program Funding

Even though a lot of people in Congress support the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 which would give $7 billion to keep the ACP going this year it needs Speaker Mike Johnson’s approval to move forward. But this proposal only solves the problem for this year. That’s why they’re also talking about the Spectrum and National Security Act and the Promoting Affordable Connectivity Act. The Promoting Affordable Connectivity Act is interesting because it wants to tax big tech companies to help pay for the ACP which is something they’ve been doing in Europe. But for now we have to wait and see what Congress decides about the ACP’s future in the next few weeks.

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