NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Almost 430,000 Tennesseans enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program will have higher internet bills this month.
The Federal Communications Commission launched the Affordable Connectivity Program in 2021 to help low-income Americans obtain affordable internet. The program, which cut eligible Americans’ internet bills by up to $30 per month, ran out of funding and ended on June 1.
According to the White House, Tennesseans saved a combined $12.7 million per month through the program.
“It’s going to be rough honestly, because that’s an extra $30 we have to pay towards our internet bill every month,” Rachel Jernigan, who was enrolled in the ACP, said to WJHL’s sister station, WATE in April. “Certain members of my family use it for phones too. I mean disabled [people], elderly people, it’s their lifeline.”
Sammy Lowdermilk, program director for Tech Goes Home Tennessee which provides digital skills training courses among other services and resources, told News 2 the ACP was a lifeline for many families in the state that didn’t have access to affordable internet. Several of those families have told him they plan to cancel their service because they can no longer afford it.
“ISPs, it’s a business model for most of them, so they have to charge a certain amount of money to provide that service. Most of the time it’s beyond what your average family can budget,” Lowdermilk said.
Lowdermilk believes the program ending will not only impact the quality of life of those enrolled in the ACP, but also potentially Tennessee’s economy.
“Whether it’s applying for a job, you have to do that online,” Lowdermilk said. “Even if you go into a store, if you walk into Target, they’re going to sit you down at a computer to fill out an application. We may never know the full impact of that, but taking away that resource, because people have other bills that they will prioritize probably, it’s going to be quite a disservice.”
During a recent Congressional hearing on broadband affordability, both Republicans and Democrats acknowledged the ACP inflated the cost of broadband for all Americans, and the program needed to be reformed. It’s unclear if Congress will fund the ACP again in the future.
Companies including AT&T, Spectrum, Verizon, and Xfinity offer discounted internet plans for low-income individuals. There are also some affordable internet resources offered through the state of Tennessee.