Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a video press conference to announce her bipartisan legislation to renew the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal program that provides financial assistance to low-income households to help them afford high-speed internet. The program ran out of funding in May, and as a result, over 23 million American households – including over 1.7 million in New York — have since lost access to this critical benefit, which helped them afford the broadband services they need to work remotely, complete online coursework, attend telehealth appointments, and more. The Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act would provide $6 billion for the ACP and continue providing this discount to families in need.
“The Affordable Connectivity Program provided a lifeline for millions of Americans. By slashing the cost of an internet connection, it connected rural Americans, seniors, and low-income households to job boards, remote work opportunities, online classes, telehealth appointments, and so much more,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Now that the program has expired, these Americans are forced to pay full price for internet – an unaffordable option for many – or lose access to broadband services entirely. I’m fighting to pass the Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act to provide $6 billion for this critical program that nearly 2 million New York households rely on. This bill has broad bipartisan support and I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to get it passed as soon as possible.”
The Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act would provide eligible households with a monthly discount of up to $30 per month off the cost of internet service. On qualifying Tribal lands, the monthly discount may be up to $75 per month.
Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Angus King (I-ME), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Jim Risch (R-ID) cosponsor this legislation.