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Calling on President Biden and Congress to prioritize a permanent reauthorization and funding of the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”).
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WHEREAS, Internet access has become a necessity for every American - it is no longer a luxury. Cities and counties have served on the front lines of our nation’s effort to close the digital divide - forging partnerships, funding networks, and supporting community engagement efforts to drive deployment and adoption of high-speed internet in unserved and underserved communities. The ACP is a vital tool in achieving these efforts; and
WHEREAS, Enacted as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the ACP provides low-income households a discount of up to $30 per month for internet service and up to $75 per month on qualifying Tribal lands or high-cost locations, making an internet subscription affordable for all - and in many cases, entirely free. Today, approximately 1 in 5 Americans, without home internet, cite cost as a factor and 43 percent of adults with a household income under $30,000 do not have high-speed internet at home. Addressing broadband affordability in this way is crucial to closing the digital divide and ensuring all Americans are equitably connected; and
WHEREAS, The ACP has already helped over 20 million U.S. households better afford access to the internet. By supporting local efforts to bring the benefits of broadband to our constituents, the ACP is helping to deliver services such as telehealth, education, commerce, and access to government services, resources, and information in a more accessible manner than ever before; and
WHEREAS, Due to the success of the program, the ACP is expected to run out of funds as early as mid-2024. If the ACP proves to lapse, millions of families in urban, rural, and Tribal lands will lose access to the benefit - threatening to undo years of bipartisan progress shrinking the digital divide. No one should be willing to accept that result; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby urge President Biden and Congress to move swiftly to pass legislation to reauthorize and fund the ACP to ensure that low-income residents can continue to afford internet service.
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