Connectivity Program WASHINGTON, January 10, 2024 — Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, released the subsequent declaration endorsing the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024. The bill is championed in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Clarke & Fitzgerald and in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Welch, Vance, Cramer, and Rosen. Simultaneously, he implores Congress to fortify and make enduring the program by means of comprehensive Universal Service Fund (USF) restructuring:
“The persisting quandary of broadband affordability has perpetually been a focal point for Connected Nation. It substantiates the crux of the Digital Divide’s enduring presence in America—a direct result of the fact that the monthly service expenditure has remained beyond the financial grasp of numerous Americans.
The genesis of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), an imperative born out of the exigency induced by the COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of connectivity needs, has evolved into an indispensable initiative. Its mission is to ensure that millions of American households can access high-quality home Internet without financial strain. Projections indicate that the program’s financial resources will be entirely depleted by April, compelling Congress to promptly intervene in preserving this crucial lifeline.
This lifeline is no less pivotal than the provision of clean water or the maintenance of secure roadways. We passionately implore Congress to ratify the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 to sustain program funding throughout 2024. Following this, we urge swift action on a more extensive federal USF overhaul, ensuring a consistent and enduring financial conduit for ACP that Americans can depend on.”
In the realm of digital connectivity, the urgency of addressing the persistent quandaries surrounding broadband affordability remains an unwavering commitment for Connected Nation. The nucleus of the Digital Divide’s tenacity in the American landscape is unequivocally linked to the prohibitive monthly costs of connectivity services, eluding the financial means of a substantial portion of the populace.
The genesis of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was an imperative response to the escalating connectivity needs accentuated by the unforeseen contours of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has metamorphosed into an indispensable initiative, a lifeline ensuring that myriad American households can seamlessly access top-tier home Internet services without succumbing to financial strain.
As projections ominously predict the complete depletion of the program’s financial reservoirs by April, the clarion call resounds through the halls of Congress to intervene promptly. This intervention is not merely to salvage a program; it is a dire necessity, likened to securing the elemental foundations of clean water provision and the maintenance of secure road networks.
The impassioned plea from Connected Nation extends beyond the immediate horizon, urging Congress not only to ratify the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 but also to embark urgently upon a comprehensive overhaul of the federal Universal Service Fund (USF). This overhaul is imperative for establishing a consistent and enduring financial conduit for ACP, fostering a reliance that resonates deeply with the American populace.
The vibrancy of a digitally connected society hinges upon the accessibility and affordability of high-quality Internet services. The call to action is not just a matter of policy; it is an acknowledgment of the indispensable role that connectivity plays in the fabric of contemporary life. As Connected Nation underscores the imperative for Congressional action, the echo reverberates—an echo that transcends the technicalities of legislation and resonates with the profound human need for connectivity.
