WASHINGTON (TND) — Millions of Americans are losing access to a low-cost internet service. The Affordable Connectivity Program is coming to an end after losing congressional funding.
The program launched in December of 2021 and 23 million subscribers took advantage. That includes Alisha Jones, a mother of two living in Delaware.
It was kind of like a saving grace for me, Jones said.With both her kids going to school remotely and Jones herself working towards a degree online, having internet, despite being on a fixed income, was a necessity.
"It literally took the worry out of how are we going to afford this?" Jones said.
An issue facing millions of Americans, Jones was even asked to speak at the White House about the ACP.
"I had people reaching out to me all across this country. 'How do I sign up?'" said Jones.
But now, nearly three years later, due to a lack of congressional funding, the ACP is ending.
"Once again, low-income households are left at the mercy of these service providers," said Ramnath Chellappa, a Professor at Emory University.
Chellappa said the way we use the internet today is a lot different than when this program started.
"If you think about the internet today, it's like electricity now," Chellappa said.
Which is why subscribers like Jones want to see it continue. The internet has turned into a necessity and with access to it, she says people like herself, can change their lives.
I see the growth and I see not just the growth in my personal (self) but how I've grown to be able to afford my own bill," said Jones.Although the program ended at the beginning of June, several internet service providers have agreed to continue offering discounted plans to low-income households. Some include AT&T, Comcast and Verizon.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uLbAnKuvZpOkunC6xLCqaKaRqbawuoywpquklGSup7LOq5uampyaeqS7zaecnKyZq7a1xYypqaifopa6brHNnaCnn12ovK6xjKycq66ZmLJuvNGoraKclafAbr%2FToqOlZZ%2Bbs6a%2ByKeeZqCVob1utc2tnKumlal6o77OmpubmZ6ZeqetzKKjop2jYrmww4yipZynnZp6pLvNoKmeq6Nis7a6w6KloGWRqcFuwsSroLOnnmKwsLnCmqqt