More than a dozen Internet service providers have agreed to continue offering discounted Internet plans to low-income families through the end of 2024, when the federal program that subsidizes the discounts ends, the Biden administration announced Friday. .
AT&T, Comcast, Cox, Spectrum, Verizon and nine other providers will continue to offer their plans for $30 or less to those currently enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program and other eligible households.
Other participating providers include Allo Fiber, altafiber (and Hawaiian Telcom), Astound Broadband, IdeaTek, Mediacom, MLGC, Optimum, Starry and Vermont Telephone Company.
The Affordable Connectivity Program, which has offered broadband discounts to more than 23 million households, will suspend benefits completely from Saturday due to a lack of funding.
While some families will maintain their low-cost Internet plans under recently announced agreements with providers, the Biden administration has once again called on Congress to approve an additional $6 billion in funding to expand the program.
“It is regrettable that the Federal Communications Commission must terminate the most successful broadband affordability program in our nation’s history,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote in a letter to Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio) at Thursday. Joyce chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.
“There continues to be a huge need for ACP and the consistent, reliable benefits it provides to help low-income families in rural, suburban and urban America get online and stay online,” Rosenworcel added.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
