NDIA along with Five Community Partners File Letter with FCC Representing ACP Outreach Grantees
Since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the ACP Outreach Grant Programs (National Competitive Outreach Grant Program; Tribal Competitive Outreach Grant Program; Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program; and the ACP Navigator Pilot Program), we have been working with ACP Outreach Grantees, providing peer-spaces, support, and help managing their grants and the needs of their residents.
Now, with the strong possibility that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will end, the work of outreach grantees remains as important as ever.
On January 11, we and five community partners submitted a letter to the FCC advocating for the needs and funding of ACP Outreach Grantees.
Our requests to the FCC:
- Allow ACP Outreach Grantees to redirect their funded work toward program wind-down activities, including “raising awareness about the potential end of the ACP, conducting outreach to support enrollees during a wind-down phase as households transition off the program.”
- Work with ACP Outreach Grantees to help facilitate the orderly implementation of the wind-down of the ACP and “mitigate the impact of the end of ACP.”
Without the ability to reach impacted households, the Commission and grantees risk losing the trust of those they enrolled in the program, which may negatively impact the successful implementation of future broadband benefit programs the Commission and other agencies may administer.
If you would like to read the full letter, download it here: Letter-to-Commission-re.-ACP-Outreach-Grantees-and-Wind-Down.pdf (274 downloads )
What Happens Next?
NDIA will continue to monitor updates on ACP and will communicate updates on our listserv, blog posts, and community calls.