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Today, one in six households in the United States will receive notice that the Affordable Connectivity Program will be ending soon, disrupting families’ access and connection to affordable, reliable broadband internet and exacerbating the nation’s digital divide.

Across the United States, individuals and families struggle to afford the high monthly costs of broadband internet at home. Cost remains a to internet access—particularly for low-income, Tribal, and rural households—and it impedes access to education, healthcare, and work opportunities, as well as government services.

To help bridge the digital divide and connect more households to the benefits of broadband, Congress created the (ACP). The ACP provides eligible low-income households and individuals with a discount up to $30 per month toward internet services and up to $75 per month for those on qualifying Tribal lands.

To date, the ACP has helped households of the 52 million eligible get connected—and stay connected—to high-speed home internet. Communities from Michigan and to , , and beyond are using the ACP to advance digital equity and bring online opportunities and services to those who need it most. According to the , these households include over 960,000 veteran households, 3.2 million families with a K-12 student receiving free or reduced-price lunches, 1.1 million low-income college students, and 10 million subscribers who are 50 or older. Broadband subsidy programs like ACP have been shown to help for low-income households, facilitate access to via telehealth, and address .

While some lawmakers have of the program, the ACP has gained widespread bipartisan support among , , and alike for its . Without the ACP’s support, families on tight budgets would face higher internet bills and may need to choose between paying for internet or other basic necessities.

Unfortunately, without action from Congress, the ACP is set to run out of funds, potentially as early as May, ending critical internet subsidies to families across the United States. On January 10, a bipartisan group of representatives introduced the “” in both chambers of Congress. This legislation would appropriate $7 billion to the ACP to continue its support to families in need for the 2024 fiscal year.

The Open Technology Institute (OTI) at ������Ƶ industry organizations, state/local/Tribal governments, public interest groups, and community-based organizations in urging Congress to pass this legislation before the ACP runs out of funds and millions are unable to afford this connectivity.

As part of Don’t Disconnect US Day, OTI encourages households across the country to call their Congressional representatives and urge that they act now to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program. Participants can find resources, call scripts, and more at .

Re-funding the ACP is the first step toward developing a long-term funding solution that allows the program to remain an available resource for the millions of low-income households who depend on it for their internet access.

To learn more about the ACP and how it is helping households and communities across the country, visit OTI’s ACP resources page. This collection catalogs a wide range of press, blogs, letters, reports, stories, and data in support of the ACP. These pages are updated periodically as we continue to advocate for additional ACP funding.