Shutdown of the Affordable Connectivity Program
“We need to ensure that residents who were formerly enrolled in the ACP stay connected, and we cannot stop our push to connect more Massachusetts households to broadband Internet”
— Senator Ed Markey
When Congressional funding ended for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), low-income consumers lost access to internet discounts. ACP was a national benefit program that provided a discount on monthly internet bills and a one-time discount for a certain devices for qualifying households. Nearly 370,000 MA households (14%) were enrolled in ACP when it ended. In some areas of the state, 1 in 4 households participated in ACP.
A study by The Brattle Group looked at how the ACP program affects the economy. Here’s what they found:
The ACP program makes more money than it costs to run.
Just the savings in healthcare from the program is four times more than what it costs every year, meaning it could cover the costs if it starts again.
If one person on Medicaid switches from an in-person doctor visit to a telehealth appointment, it could save enough money to support the ACP program for 3.5 years for one person.
If the ACP program starts again, it could help students do better in school and earn over $3.7 billion more each year starting about ten years after they finish high school.
Reinstating the program could create between $2.1 billion and $4.3 billion in extra earnings for people because more people would be working.
So, in simple terms, the ACP program helped save money, improves school performance, and can lead to people earning more money!
With the ACP shutdown, An Act Preserving Broadband Service for Low-Income Consumers (H.D. 3527 / S.2318) is more important than ever!
