The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will host a series of virtual office hours to answer questions about the affordable connectivity program's outreach grants and application process, said a public notice Wednesday in docket 21-450. Office hours will be from 12-1 p.m. EST Dec. 1, Dec. 16, and Jan. 4.
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)?
The Affordable Connectivity Program was a recently expired subsidy for low-income households to lower the cost of purchasing broadband internet and connected devices. The program was signed into law as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and administered by the FCC up until June 1, 2024, due to expiration of the ACP’s funding.
Will the ACP Return?
Congress continues to debate restoring ACP funding, with immediate next steps likely to come from the Senate Commerce Committee or Congressional discussions on revising the Universal Service Fund.
The FCC released an order requiring all affordable connectivity program providers to submit annual data on price, plan coverage, and characteristics of their service to ACP-enrolled households Wednesday. The order, adopted Nov. 15, declined to adopt a subscriber-level data collection, citing privacy concerns and administrative burdens, and instead established an aggregate collection system. Providers will be required to submit the same pricing information as required by the broadband consumer labels and whether there are recurring or one-time equipment fees. Providers are also required to submit the number of households receiving the benefit at a zip code level. The FCC will release non-provider-specific data, aggregated at the state level, on "the average or median prices of plans in which ACP subscribers are enrolled within designated download speed tiers and data on the number of subscribers of plans within those tiers," the order said. An accompanying NPRM will seek comment on revising the data collection rules and whether the FCC should seek more granulated data on enrollment and the digital divide. The FCC "need[s] to know where we have been with this program to better understand where we need to go," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: "We are also considering proposals in a further rulemaking to see what other data points may help paint a fuller picture of how eligible households participate in this program." The data "will greatly inform our policymaking going forward," said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, saying he hopes outreach grant recipients "look to the data we collect here to help them better serve their communities."
The FCC released a notice of funding opportunity for its Your Home, Your Internet and affordable connectivity program navigator pilot grant programs (see 2211100044). Applications are due by Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. EST, said a news release Monday. The commission made up to $5 million available for the Your Home, Your Internet grants and up to $5 million for the ACP navigator grants. Only pilot participants seeking grant funds will be required to adhere to the NOFO's requirements. "Through these one-year pilot program outreach grants, we hope to learn more about how to better market these programs, including how participants can reach out to those receiving federal housing assistance and help households overcome enrollment barriers," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
Industry and state broadband officials emphasized the need for better data on broadband availability and public-private partnerships as NTIA prepares to administer its broadband, equity, access and deployment program, speaking at USTelecom's broadband investment forum Wednesday. Some raised concerns about regulatory requirements in the BEAD program and ensuring state broadband offices are prepared to administer funding to subgrantees.
The FCC encouraged entities interested in applying for the affordable connectivity program's outreach grants to present "innovative outreach strategies" that can be implemented at the multistate or national level, due to the limited funding available, said Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau staff during a webinar Tuesday. Attendees sought guidance on how to navigate the application process and how the bureau will base its funding decisions.
The House planned to vote as soon as Monday night on the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act (HR-4275) under suspension of the rules, said the office of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Friday. HR-4275, previously known as the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients Act, would require the FCC to do a report on the number of SNAP participants enrolled in the Lifeline and affordable connectivity programs. The House Commerce Committee unanimously advanced the measure in July (see 2207130066).
Applications for the FCC's affordable connectivity program national outreach grants and tribal outreach grants are due by Jan. 9, said a notice of funding opportunity released Thursday (see 2209200076). A separate notice for the Your Home, Your Internet and ACP navigator pilot grant programs will be released Nov. 21, said a news release. "Our outreach partners have already demonstrated creativity, perseverance, and a continued commitment to ensuring everyone, everywhere has the internet connections they need," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, "and these outreach grants aim to supercharge those successful efforts.”
A coalition of industry groups proposed allowing providers participating in the FCC's affordable connectivity program the option to provide an "average net rate charged" to households for each tier of supported services in each five-digit ZIP code as part of the program's mandatory data collection. It would allow the commission to determine "at a geographically granular level" how many households are receiving service "with no out-of-pocket expense" and the average price for households that are "subscribing to broadband services that are not fully covered by the ACP benefit," said the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA, NCTA and USTelecom in a letter posted Wednesday in docket 21-450. The mandatory collection could include a monthly rate for "each ACP-supported service tier" and the number of subscribers in a ZIP code, they said. The groups asked the FCC to disclose its data "on an aggregate basis" and within ranges for speeds or monthly data allowance to maintain providers' and consumer privacy. The groups also asked that data be aggregated to a higher geographic level if fewer than three providers are "in a geographic unit."
The FCC established a database connection with the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Benefits Administration to improve access to the affordable connectivity program and Lifeline for veterans. It will "enable automatic eligibility verification" for veterans receiving qualifying pension benefits, said a news release Wednesday. Veterans won't need to submit additional eligibility documentation to enroll in either program if their eligibility is automatically determined by the national verifier. The initiative will "help our Veterans more easily get affordable online digital benefits that can open doors to education, health care and job opportunities,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
New York legislators could double down on a court-blocked state law that sought to require $15 monthly plans for low-income households. Assemblymember Brian Cunningham (D) plans to reintroduce his 2022 bill AB-10690 this January to require $5 monthly internet for low-income consumers, the Democrat said in an interview this week. Three ISP associations that sued New York over its previous affordability bill condemned the fresh attempt to lower broadband prices.