In the small North Carolina town of Bryson City, just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kathleen Wain raises two grandchildren in her subsidized-rent apartment, taking them to sing in a church choir on weekends.
For the past year and a half, Wain has received a discount on her internet service through a short-term federal program, allowing her grandkids to do online schoolwork and her to do remote banking.
Her bill decreased from $52 a month to about $20 a month. “I said, ‘Cool, I don’t have to worry about it anymore.’”
But Wain’s discount ended in April, after Congress did not extend the pandemic-era Affordable Connectivity Program. She’s paying $30 a month since Frontier, her internet provider, has reduced the cost — for now.
“There’s a lot of people that need it [internet] for a lot of things,” said Wain, 75. “I can’t even imagine being without it — I really can’t.”
The federal Affordable Connectivity Program, launched at the end of 2021, has provided a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible low-income households and up to $75 for households on qualifying tribal lands.
Now, without additional funding from Congress, more than 23 million households across the country have begun to lose the aid. April was the last fully funded month, with some households receiving partial benefits from their internet service provider through May. Several congressional bills have been introduced to extend the program, but none has advanced yet.
In response, some states and localities have expanded their broadband initiatives and programs to help those no longer receiving the federal boost. That could leave disparities in access across the country, experts say, and many households will slip through the cracks as they become unable to afford internet service.
Because of the high cost, there’s no alternative to a dedicated federal benefit program like the Affordable Connectivity Program to solve the problem of affordability, said Angela Siefer, the executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, which advocates for broadband access.
“So, what we’re going to end up with is a piecemeal kind of approach where some communities figure out solutions — most of them will not have solutions,” she said.
While some states are bolstering programs to help residents afford broadband, others are boosting their infrastructure initiatives to reach those who still can’t connect to the internet. And some local officials are offering ACP-like benefits through county funds.
Americans pay more for broadband than almost every other nation in the world. U.S. internet bills average $89 each month, according to a survey of 2,500 Americans late last year by U.S. News & World Report.
The federal Lifeline program, started in 1985, is the only other national initiative giving low-income households a discount on phone and internet service. Lifeline, which residents were allowed to use at the same time as the ACP aid, provides a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 for eligible households and up to $34.25 for those on tribal lands.
States try to fill the gaps
Last year, nearly all 50 states considered legislation to expand broadband access and affordability for communities nationwide, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. At least 45 enacted legislation.
This year, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah and Washington passed legislation related to state broadband grant programs and initiatives to help with access and affordability, many using federal funds.
Nick Batz, the director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said now that the federal Affordable Connectivity Program is gone, his office has shifted its focus to building up broadband infrastructure through the federal $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, known as BEAD, created under the 2021 infrastructure law.
BEAD provides grants to expand broadband access through statewide development projects.
“The challenge ahead of us is tremendous,” Batz said. “And it’s not something that I can accomplish on my own. It’s not something that my team can accomplish on our own. Really, we need engagement from local governments, cities, counties and tribes.”
Although BEAD isn’t a benefit program, Aaron Wheeler, the director of the Washington State Broadband Office, is hopeful that it will be able to at least get the 7% of households in the state who are without internet connected.
While his office has multiple programs to help households at a statewide level, the federal BEAD program will be especially helpful in identifying the areas most in need, Wheeler said.
“Everyone’s really invested in making sure that BEAD goes well, and that the money goes to the places that it needs to,” Wheeler said. “Getting people plugged in is No. 1, and then making sure people can still continue to afford it is No. 2.”
But with elections drawing nearer, some state officials expect they’ll be working under new administrations. Washington state will have a new governor next year, meaning more negotiations for broadband funding, said Devin Proctor, the policy and communications manager for the Washington State Broadband Office.
Local governments and nonprofits step in
On the local level, some governments have been able to carve out funds to help households pay for broadband. Albemarle County, located in the Piedmont region of Virginia with about 114,000 residents, has invested $1 million in public broadband expansion by partnering with internet service providers that are deploying fiber throughout the county.
That, in addition to about $60 million in state, federal and private funding, means the county is on track to have universal broadband coverage — where every household in the county can access the internet — by the end of 2025, said Jason Inofuentes, the program manager at the county’s Broadband Accessibility and Affordability Office.
Before the Affordable Connectivity Program ran out of funding, Albemarle County officials created the ACP Bridge program, an additional county benefit for households to use alongside the federal ACP aid. Those enrolled in the program could get an additional $20 per month toward internet services.
Right now, the ACP Bridge has enough funding to last through the next fiscal year, thanks to a $500,000 boost from the county Board of Supervisors, Inofuentes said.
Still, with the federal program at its end, affordability will continue to be an issue, he said. And some residents who need the help may not be aware of the available programs.
“I think that there is a distinct reality that there are going to be households in our community and all over the country that are going to lose coverage because of this,” said Inofuentes. “The way that we see it, we have to work tirelessly to get people enrolled in other programs they can afford.”
In some communities, local nonprofits are raising awareness and providing support, said Sean Gonsalves, the associate director for communications at the Community Broadband Networks Initiative, a nationwide project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a national nonprofit that works to “build local power to fight corporate control.”
Despite the Biden administration’s push to prioritize funding for municipal broadband, nonprofits and other nontraditional internet providers, these types of providers are restricted in many states, Gonsalves said.
“The broadband market is dominated by regional monopoly providers — and that pretty much answers the question as to why broadband in the United States is so expensive,” he said.
Some nonprofits are helping residents afford broadband.
DigitalC, a technology nonprofit based in Cleveland providing affordable internet for underserved communities, is offering internet for $18 a month under its own Canopy internet service for city residents.
Project Waves, a program fiscally sponsored by the Digital Harbor Foundation based in Baltimore, has been able to offer free internet to low-income residents of the city.
Lawmakers and state officials at all levels have been aware for more than a year that the federal Affordable Connectivity Program would run out of funding, Gonsalves said. But there’s a lot of uncertainty about how to help now.
“With ACP — where 23 million households were beneficiaries — we still don’t have a clear sense of what those folks will do when the benefit expires,” Gonsalves said.
–Madison FitzGerald, Stateline
Henry says
Biden could fix this easily but wont because it helps Americans! He is the worst!
Brian Ford says
The President (no President from either party) can fix this as it is legislation that is slowly moving through Congress. See:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/getinternet/
I’ve reached out and spoken to my elected representative in support of this legislation. Their response was that the legislation get ‘attached’ to other bills. Many of our representatives support subsidized or even free Internet for their lower income constituents. They just really don’t like what it’s often attached to.
On it’s own these Internet subsidies are a benefit that goes to households which translates to home owners and renters. There are minimal requirements to qualify. Often the person seeking the benefit just has to show their previous years tax paperwork (earned income). It often helps educate children, veterans, and the disabled.
You would think that Internet Service Providers could just create their own low income subsidy or free programs. Some do. But where this is most desperately needed there are fewer and less profitable Internet providers who can’t afford to offer low or no cost service.
Deborah Coffey says
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $700 Million to Connect People in Remote and Rural Areas to High-Speed Internet (USDA.gov). This is a news headline. Now, you do know that Congress needs to pass a budget every year, right? And, you know that the House of Representatives have a Republican majority that will NOT vote to extend monies for rural Internet access. If you feel the need to blame someone or someones, you need to blame the right person(s)…and then vote for the other party that actually cares.
Deborah Coffey says
So, will Ms. Wain go right out and vote for Republicans? I hope she knows WHO takes away her benefits.
JimboXYZ says
Ms Wain in NC is subsidized housing, food, internet and everything else of becoming a Biden recipient. The inflation on the internet happened under Biden. He created the problem. This article wasn’t necessary under Trump was it ? $ 30 for internet as a subsidy, I’m sure her rent, grocery bills & utilities have at least $ 30 of Biden inflation in it that would more than cover the cost of the inflationary internet pricing ? Vote for the party that lowers prices/has price stability or vote for the party that raises them/has no pricing stability. Biden is the king of make you feel like he did something for you when he created the mess & what he temporarily corrected makes you feel like he’s done something for you. If anyone hit your mailbox with a car 7 replaced it, granted you have a new mailbox, but you’ve always had a functional mailbox. So they did nothing for you beyond replace a mailbox hat they damaged. That’s the Biden effect. He said as much on Dec 12th, 2020. Steer people towards what is relatively in heir best interest without really giving them anything. Seem to be plenty of money for wars, processing immigrants (illegals) & inflation. But eventually programs like this dry up and then there are poor income types that all of a sudden have yet another Biden inflationary gouge & issue. It’s the same thing with Biden’s solar initiative. This affordable internet program is going away under Biden/D’s, not Trump/R’s taking it away.
Ray W. says
Both Trump and Biden are nearly equally politically responsible for the majority of the inflation occurring since 2021. Between Congress and both presidents, nearly $6 trillion in unfunded stimulus money was pumped into an economy collapsing because of a pandemic. Inflation rose because the newly stimulated economy placed pressure on supply chains that could not keep up with the artificially stimulated demand. The better term is “Trudenflation”. Had Congress and both presidents not approved the unfunded stimulus money, would we be in a full-fledged depression? Some economists admit the possibility. Almost all admit that a long-term recession would have occurred, but for the “Trudenomics” of the last four years.
Does anyone other than the “pestilential” partisan member of faction think that JimboXYZ is right to place sole blame for inflation on the current administration? Does anyone think that we would have passed $5.9 trillion in unfunded stimulus funding but for the pandemic? That the sole blame for inflation is the pandemic?
Steve says
See Tariffs. Thanks again Ray for a sensible PO ost with facts
Joe D says
Thank you Ray W!
Facts instead of made up “JIMBO”(pun INTENDED)
Yes, I’m sure that the stimulus checks (from BOTH administrations) helped add to the pandemic inflation …not just BIDEN. At least BIDEN had a plan for it to be paid for…rather than Trump, who just gave the tax cuts (80% to the upper 10% of income levels, and PENNIES for those making less than $50k…especially since so many tax deductions were decreased or eliminated under TRUMP. Well those cuts are due to stop somewhere in the beginning of 2025, if not renewed in one form or another
And to Henry: No, Biden CANNOT just extend it!! Although he VERY MUCH wants it to be renewed…but it takes the House of Representatives to start the approval ball rolling.
Currently the HOUSE in in the control of REPUBLICANS, (after the midterm 2022 elections) who have seen FIT NOT to renew the internet subsidy program…another one of those PESKY Democratic “Social” programs aimed a giving “free” money out to those LAZY poor people (that was SARCASM people, in case you needed it to be explained)
So I’m assuming HENRY isn’t happy with the Republicans he probably voted for in 2022.
I’m surprised he and Jimbo haven’t tried to BLAME BIDEN for COLD SORES, since they seem to want to blame him and his administration for EVERYTHING going wrong in the WORLD. Maybe they will get their way, and TRUMP will get elected again (God HELP us all, if that happens)…then we’ll see in about 6 months of Trump’s new admission, how WELL the average working citizen is doing…
…I’m not sure Henry or Jimbo will be any happier…but MAYBE it will still be BIDEN’S FAULT…you can only play that BROKEN RECORD so many time before the disc falls APART 😉
Jim says
JimboXYZ, among your many deficiencies, one of them is reading. From the article above, I quote: “But Wain’s discount ended in April, after Congress did not extend the pandemic-era Affordable Connectivity Program.” Now, you probably don’t know this but the Republicans control (I use that term loosely) the House and the Democrats control the Senate. The reason this discount has ended is because the Republicans will not bring it forward for a vote. So rail on about Biden but this isn’t a Biden action. It’s a Mike Johnson inaction (put it on the list). I know you don’t remember this but Trump ran the country into the ground during the Covid pandemic where mixed messaging and wrong messaging (drink Clorox) was the norm. During that time, all the seeds for inflation were put into place and when the pandemic subsided, inflation surged as the country moved back to “normal”. And dear leader Trump will most assuredly take care of his rich buddies (he’s already said he’d do that) and couldn’t care less about the rest of us (read YOU). I don’t know what you have against “Biden’s solar initiative”. I guess you think we should just continue burning gas and coal until it’s all gone and then maybe start looking at alternative sources of energy. Sounds like a reasonable approach for the non-thinking amongst us!
So keep on drinking the Kool-Aid and spouting your confused gibberish for all of Flagler to read. If nothing else, it’s a cheap form of amusement! Oh, and by the way, any chance you could do spell check and maybe re-read this gibberish to see if the sentences even make sense?
c says
@Jim
Anyone who has been on Flagler Live comment boards more than a couple days already knows that anything from JimboXYZ goes automatically into $NULL.
Jim says
c, I know that. But I believe that it’s important to not let idiots spout garbage and let it go without rebuttal. Do I expect anything reasonable, lucent or decent out of JimboXYZ? No. But I have no problem letting him know just how stupid and ignorant his comments are!
Sherry says
Thank You Jim! You are right on about the horrific republican congress!
The dude says
Mmmmm…
Word salad…
Deborah Coffey says
Please see my response to Henry above. Why do you think the Presidential Rankings 2024 have Joe Biden as 14th best POTUS and Donald Trump last? These rankings are done by experts using about a dozen categories with approximately 83 criteria for each president. See for yourself: https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2024/02/19/biden-14th-in-scholars–presidential-rankings–trump-last
Scandalous says
Gee with a 32 Trillion dollar deficit, as liberals spend like drunkin sailors, maybe just maybe, for the sake of our children, we should finally stop waisting money on people who are lazy and dependant on others to pay for their desires. The internet is NOT a need. It is a want. Pierre, you have children. How can you destroy their future by advocating over burdening them with social debt. Have you no honor?
Sreve says
Trump added 8 trillion in 4 years Cry louder cupcake
Nancy N. says
Uh, welcome to the 21st century, where internet access is most definitely a required utility. Schools require the use of internet to access student platforms and do homework. Businesses require job applications to be completed online, and most distribute their employee schedules and pay information that way as well. Paying bills and basic banking activities must be done online. You need internet access to get your medical information, fill a prescription, communicate with doctors via messaging systems, all sorts of medical things. And on, and on…I suggest you try living for a month without access to the internet and see how it goes for you.
Sherry says
Thanks so much, Nancy N.!
Sherry says
Fascism is so much easier to roll out if the population is kept out of touch and uneducated!
don miller says
impossible!! biden says best economy ever.
Pierre Tristam says
Objectively speaking, with unemployment at or below 4 percent since November 2001, it is the best economy ever. But it’s out of balance: it’s much better the higher you go on the wealth ladder.
Land of no turn signals says says
How did us old folk graduate high school plus go to college without internet.Maybe not being lazy is a start.