Table of Contents
President Biden's Internet for All initiative aims to connect every household in America by 2030, deploying over $80 billion in federal funding to expand access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet across the country. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides qualifying households with up to $30 per month off their internet bill, with over 23 million households enrolled. However, without further funding from Congress, the ACP will expire, leading to an increase in internet prices for these households. President Biden has called on Congress to extend this benefit through 2024, but Republican leaders have failed to act. Access to affordable high-speed internet is crucial for small business formation and economic growth, with online sales accounting for 15.9 percent of total retail sales and job seekers looking for jobs online. Expanding access to and adoption of broadband is important for reducing economic disparities, and the Biden-Harris administration is making targeted investments to address these challenges. Without action from Republican leaders, funding for the ACP will soon lapse, leading to an increase in internet bills for families and a loss of economic benefits for vulnerable communities. The economic benefits of programs that expand access to high-speed internet are well-established, and continued funding for the ACP would benefit all Americans.
