5 Senate Democrats Ask ISPs to Voluntarily Cover ACP Shortfall for May

Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and four other Senate Democrat caucus members wrote CTIA President Meredith Baker and NCTA CEO Michael Powell Friday urging their member companies to voluntarily cover a $16-per-household affordable connectivity program subsidy shortfall for participants in May. The FCC indicated earlier this month that the remaining ACP funds will be enough to pay only $14 of the usual $30 subsidy per participating household in May (see 2404100082). Committing to closing the $16-per-household shortfall “would help maintain subscribers in May, who might otherwise leave the program when faced with even the smallest price increase, while Congress continues to work on a legislative solution to this problem,” the Democrats said in a letter to Baker and Powell. “With both the Senate and House of Representatives in sessions for four weeks in May, this extra time would give lawmakers a critical window to work on and pass a legislative solution. Additionally, if Congress is able to extend the ACP, it would be devastating for ACP households that drop internet service during the period of lapsed funding, forcing them to re-enroll in the ACP, a process that can require significant time and expense.” Pro-ACP lawmakers are eyeing several potential vehicles for providing ACP with stopgap funding for FY 2024, including a proposed $5 billion loan via the draft Spectrum and National Security Act. The Senate Commerce Committee is set to mark up the measure Wednesday (see 2404250061).