Tri-Caucus Chairs Urge Biden-Harris Administration to Replenish Funding for Affordable Connectivity Program to Bridge Digital Divide

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) sent a letter to the Biden-Harris Administration urging its support of replenishing the funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), created in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bridge the digital divide.

“The Biden-Harris Administration has consistently led on internet access and affordability issues and has done more to close the digital divide than its predecessors,” wrote Chairs Judy Chu (CA-28), Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Nanette Barragán (CA-44). “We urge you to support replenishing ACP funding to sustain and build on this important building block to help us overcome the digital divide.”

Click here for the full letter.

July 31, 2023

President Joe Biden
Vice President Kamala Harris
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris,

We, as Chairs of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus write to urge quick action to replenish one of the Biden-Harris Administration’s signature initiatives – the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)- created in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

More than 19 million American households have taken advantage of the ACP in the last two years, saving American families hundreds of millions of dollars each month and enabling families to get and stay connected. At a recent House oversight hearing FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel described it as “the best program we have ever developed” to close the digital divide and level the playing field so households across America, regardless of where they live or their economic status, have access to high-speed broadband services they need to take advantage of the work, education, and health opportunities broadband enables.

But experts are warning the ACP could run out of funds as early as next spring, cutting off this critical program for millions of Americans in urban, rural, and tribal areas nationwide, in spite of its overall success. Moreover, while millions of households already participate in ACP since it began less than a year and a half ago, more households are eligible for the program but may have not yet enrolled because they are not aware of the benefit. Participation will continue to grow as more households are m/ade aware of this important program due to your, Members of Congress and community partners’ efforts to increase enrollment.

Most importantly, letting the ACP lapse would hurt communities of color and our efforts to address the myriad systemic inequities they face. While the new FCC recent broadband map shows that more than 94% of housing units have access to broadband, a recent Pew survey found that just 71% of Black households and 65% of Hispanic households subscribe. And rising income inequality, poverty, and language barriers put home internet access out of reach for many Asian American families as well. As the pandemic highlighted, access to affordable, reliable and robust broadband is essential for full participation in today’s 21st century economy and for social and civic engagement. Therefore, lack of affordable high-speed internet will put these communities further behind.

The Biden-Harris Administration has consistently led on internet access and affordability issues and has done more to close the digital divide than its predecessors. We urge you to support replenishing ACP funding to sustain and build on this important building block to help us overcome the digital divide.

Sincerely,

Judy Chu
Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

Steven Horsford
Chair, Congressional Black Caucus

Nanette Barragán
Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus