The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was a crucial resource that made the internet more affordable for the 23 million households previously enrolled. ACP—which offered $30 per month for internet bills, $75 per month on Tribal lands, and a one-time discount for devices—was a safety net for eligible households, particularly those living in rural and underserved areas. However, with the program’s end on June 1, communities are feeling the strain of having that safety net removed, and families that once relied on it are back to struggling to stay connected.
The loss of ACP is not just a policy issue; it’s a real-world crisis for those who depend on affordable internet to survive and thrive. The program’s end has had tangible, negative impacts on its former participants and has challenged digital inclusion practitioners in their efforts to connect community members.
The True Cost of Losing ACP
The actual cost of losing ACP is best seen through the stories of those who benefited most from the program.
Deanna T. of Missouri shared her experience, noting that the loss of ACP created a medical emergency for her family due to losing service.
“My husband had a medical incident that could not be monitored because we did not have WiFi. We were unable to afford it at the time of the incident. We live on a very strict income, and any variance causes cuts in other areas that are equally important.” 1
Liz D. of Alaska spoke on the difference ACP made and how the loss of the program is having widespread effects on her life:
“In Alaska, remote work and remote communication is often not an option, but a way of life. Reducing the ACP has compromised my housing security as I cannot afford rent while paying $90 a month for internet; however, I cannot afford not to work remotely in order to pay my rent. The month after the ACP ended, my rent was compromised due to my internet provider charging me $80 more dollars than I consented to. I was immediately removed from autopay and only half my bill was reimbursed. I also use the internet for my other job that is dispatched through a union, by hosting necessary virtual meetings for the statewide executive board and their committees. If we don’t provide remote options for members to attend these meetings, many of us could not attend in person due to accessibility issues, such as bussing during a snow storm or not driving due to a disability (both of which apply to me personally). Overall, internet is not equitably nor equally available statewide in Alaska.” 2
Households now have to make tough decisions like whether to cancel their internet service altogether, while others are sacrificing other necessities to maintain connectivity.
Lawrence C., a retired U.S. Veteran, spoke briefly on having to cut back due to the end of ACP.
“I am a 95-year-old US Air Force veteran who served during the Korean War, and I had to cut back on my overall cable and internet bill because of the ACP ending; otherwise, it would simply have been too much to pay each month. I don’t do much at my age, but I enjoy reading David Baldacci books on my Kindle. Without internet access, I would not be able to borrow Kindle books from the Boston Public Library, which is the only way that I can borrow library books these days since I do not drive anymore and have limited mobility. It is a shame that this benefit ended, especially because of its impact on veterans who have done so much for this country. Too often, veterans get the short end of the stick and the ACP ending was another example of that. I hope it gets funded again.”3
Maria V. of California shared how ACP allowed her to afford her internet service while on a fixed income:
“Now that I am retired, I am alone most of the time, and sometimes cell phone service is bad in my area, so I need internet to be able to call my kids in case I need anything…. My kids also showed me how to use the internet to watch movies or shows on TV or to listen to music. They also use the internet when they come over to help me pay bills online and check on my medicines from the pharmacy or sometimes to help me make doctor’s appointments. When my son visits from New York and stays with me, he also uses the internet to be able to work from home, but if I didn’t have internet, he wouldn’t be able to stay with me, which would make me very sad because I don’t get to see him very often. But if it wasn’t for my kids helping to pay for my internet, I would not be able to afford to have the internet at all because I’m on a fixed income of $440 a month after retirement, and a $40 internet bill would be too much. I feel bad for some people I know who don’t have kids to help them.”4
The Impact on Organizations Serving Vulnerable Communities
Baltimore County Public Library, an NDIA affiliate l was among the many institutions that baked ACP into their early digital inclusion. strategy for serving their constituents. As Alexandra Houff explained:
“Baltimore County Public Library baked ACP into a lot of our digital inclusion efforts, starting pretty early in the process (our first event was in August of 2022). It was a calculated risk that we determined was worth taking because of the high number of un- and under-connected households in Baltimore County. At about the same time, we began the process of obtaining funding for a long-term lending (LTL) program, which would allow us to lend high-speed 5G routers to qualified customers for 3 to 6 months. Over the course of that lending period, our staff would work with borrowers to get them transitioned to ACP so we could continue to circulate routers to the next qualified home.”5
However, with the end of ACP, Baltimore County Public Library has seen a dramatic increase in demand for its devices and programs. The library’s long-term lending applications have surged, and even their short-term circulating hotspots are facing significant waitlists. Many people who once benefited from ACP are now struggling to afford internet service.
“With the end of ACP, we have seen a very large spike in our long-term lending applications, as well as a dramatic increase in our short-term circulating hotspots. We are back to a holds situation across all of our connected devices (long-term lending, LTE Chromebooks, and hotspots). While we could never fully expect 100% of all eligible households to participate, Baltimore County had a significant number of folks enroll in ACP, and the loss of the program anecdotally coincides with increased demand for our connection.”6
In response, the library focuses on educating community members about internet plans and how to navigate options to continue internet service. A crucial part of their strategy is helping residents avoid upselling that pushes them into unaffordable plans
“In the absence of ACP, we are focusing a lot on education around ISP language and skill-building for library customers who may need to have conversations with internet providers. Our intent is to help customers avoid being upsold and purchasing services or speeds that are beyond their needs. While we are also focused on digital upskilling, at the very minimum, it’s important for customers to understand that most ISPs are first and foremost businesses that have an underlying profit motive.”7
Navigating the Digital Divide Without ACP
Without ACP, residents are left to navigate a labyrinth of options, often sacrificing essential needs or relying on public internet spaces like libraries or community centers. Some are even turning to public Wi-Fi as their primary connection, which offers little stability and security for their information.
As Ameera Bartholomew from the Center of Digital Equity shared:
“We’ve seen residents reaching out with a lot of confusion about what to do next. They’re asking us to guide them toward affordable plans, but the truth is there just aren’t affordable options left without the ACP subsidy.”8
Some local governments and nonprofits are trying to step in and help in response to the end of ACP. KC Digital Drive’s subsidy program, which began in 2021, provides up to $75 per month for six months to help low-income households with internet costs. Unfortunately, as demand has increased since ACP’s end, funds for the subsidy program are quickly running out. Leslie Scott spoke a little about the program:
“We have had a subsidy program since 2021. It is up to $75 off a month for up to 6 months and $225 for past-due bills. There is no way to cover the amount that the ACP covers. Possibly doing something like utility or rental assistance in emergencies. We are running out of money for the current subsidy but are looking at DEA money and Community Development Block Grants(CDBG) to continue the subsidy.”9
While these efforts are a start, they cannot replace ACP’s impact.
Looking Forward: The Need for a Long-Term Solution
As Congress returns to DC for the lame duck session and then a new Congress convenes in January, we encourage Congress to act swiftly and allocate funding to renew the ACP program to mitigate these negative ramifications the 23 million former ACP beneficiaries are facing. We also encourage Congress to identify and implement a long-term, sustainable solution for ACP such as modernizing the Universal Service Fund to include ACP.
- National Lifeline Association, NaLA 2024 Annual Survey, https://nalalifeline.org/, November 2024
↩︎ - National Lifeline Association, NaLA 2024 Annual Survey, https://nalalifeline.org/, November 2024
↩︎ - National Lifeline Association, NaLA 2024 Annual Survey, https://nalalifeline.org/, November 2024
↩︎ - National Lifeline Association, NaLA 2024 Annual Survey, https://nalalifeline.org/, November 2024
↩︎ - Alexandra Houff, Baltimore County Public Library ↩︎
- Alexandra Houff, Baltimore County Public Library ↩︎
- Alexandra Houff, Baltimore County Public Library ↩︎
- Ameera Bartholomew, Center for Digital Equity ↩︎
- Leslie Scott, KC Digital Drive ↩︎