A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday introduced an amendment to must-pass legislation that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to extend a program that offers broadband discounts to millions of Americans.
Sens. Ben Ray Luján (DN.M.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Roger Wicker (R- Miss.) proposed an additional $6 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The program has been slowing down in recent months, closing applications and cutting the maximum grant available as funds are tight. The Biden administration has repeatedly called on Congress to provide another $6 billion to extend the program through the end of the year.
“Our bipartisan coalition is working together to ensure families don’t disconnect and fall into digital darkness,” Welch said in a statement.
“This bipartisan amendment contains compromises – but I will continue to fight to ensure this program continues beyond May and does not lapse,” he added. “It’s time for Congress to stop stalling.”
While the change would provide additional funding to expand the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), it would also place greater restrictions on which families are eligible to receive the discount.
Under the amendment, the income threshold for eligible families would be reduced from 200 percent of the federal poverty line to 135 percent, among other new restrictions.
“The current trajectory and cost of the ACP program is unsustainable,” Wicker said in a statement. “We warned the Biden administration that this day would come. That’s why I’ve been fighting to reform the program before it’s extended.”
The Accessible Connectivity Program provides assistance to around 23 million families across the country. Before May, eligible low-income families could receive discounts of up to $30 per month on Internet service, while eligible families on tribal lands could receive discounts of up to $75 per month.
This month, the maximum monthly benefit for low-income families and families on tribal lands dropped to $14 and $35, respectively. The Biden administration also suspended new enrollment in the program in early February.
The proposed funding and changes to the Affordable Connectivity Program are part of an amendment to legislation reauthorizing the FAA.
Facing a Friday deadline, the House approved a one-week extension Wednesday afternoon, giving Congress until May 17 to reach an agreement on the five-year FAA reauthorization bill.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
