ACP Support 'Urgently Needed' Ahead of Wind-Down: Rosenworcel

More funding is "urgently needed" to maintain the FCC's affordable connectivity program, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told lawmakers in a letter Monday. Reps. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., plan to introduce legislation Wednesday that would provide ACP with stopgap funding, though Congress’ appetite for providing the program more money remains in question given misgivings among top Republicans on the House and Senate Commerce committees (see 2312210074), communications policy-focused lobbyists told us.

The ACP Extension Act would renew ACP and allocate it more than $6 billion, congressional Democratic aides and communications-policy-focused lobbyists told us. A draft Clarke circulated two weeks ago would give ACP $7billion for FY 2024, but lobbyists said that figure wasn't finalized. Clarke announced plans for the ACP bill in November (see 2311300069). Senate Agriculture Rural Development Subcommittee Chairman Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, are expected to file a companion version of the ACP Extension Act "this week," a spokesperson said. Spokespeople for Clarke, Fitzpatrick and Vance didn’t immediately comment.

Rosenworcel echoed the Biden administration's call to invest $6 billion in ACP (see 2310250075) before it runs out of support in April, saying the program is "in jeopardy." Rosenworcel also noted the FCC will "begin taking steps this week to start orderly wind-down procedures to give participating providers, households and other stakeholders sufficient time to prepare for the projected end of the ACP." The commission will issue guidance to the roughly 1,700 participating providers about the wind down, which includes a requirement that consumers receive "specific, frequent, notice" to avoid confusion or bill shock.

The commission will announce an enrollment deadline to "slow the depletion of the remaining funding and reduce volatility in the program," Rosenworcel said. A formal end date for the outreach program will be announced as well. "After this date is determined, the commission will provide notice about the remaining time for the ACP and other information to facilitate the end of the program," she said.

"This program now helps nearly 23 million households nationwide," Rosenworcel said: "If Congress does not provide additional funding for the ACP in the near future, millions of households will lose the ACP benefit that they use to afford internet service." Absent more funding, "we could lose the significant progress this program has made towards closing the digital divide," she said.

ACP helped "many millions to afford broadband service" and shouldn't end, said Fiber Broadband Association CEO Gary Bolton. "This notice will help those currently enrolled navigate their options and should facilitate their continued access to critical broadband service, especially provided over fiber infrastructure," Bolton said: "We encourage Congress to appropriate funding to continue this program, which has been integral in keeping Americans connected to the internet and allows them to participate in all aspects of the economy and society.”

NARUC is an “ardent supporter of ACP,” but understands “that the FCC has to begin this wind-down process because of the protracted negotiations over FY 2024 appropriations,” said the state regulator association’s Telecom Committee Chairman Tim Schram (R). NARUC adopted a 2023 resolution supporting permanent funding (see 2307180036). “Access to affordable broadband internet service is a necessity today,” said Schram, “yet millions of homes still lack access.” State regulators “strongly urge Congress to act fast to provide the funds needed to keep this crucial program on track. NARUC also supports guardrails for accountability to ensure that public funds are directed for the intended purpose of closing the digital divide."

ACP "has been essential in providing high-speed internet to hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians" and Gov. Roy Cooper (D) "has urged Congress to reauthorize it," a Cooper spokesperson said. Cooper wrote to the state's delegation in September (see 2309270049). "Affordable high-speed internet is a necessity in today’s world, whether it’s for education, work or health care and it is critical that people continue to have this access at a more affordable cost."