Internet service providers like Charter, Verizon and Comcast are dialing back their support to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program, an expired federal internet subsidy for low-income households.
It's not always ‘a sexy thing' to be a millionaire, former NFL linebacker Brandon Copeland says. Here's whyAnd though broadband companies lobbied to get the ACP renewed before it expired, since then they have done little to revive the program, as there is uncertainty over where the funding would come from and November's election has cast a chill on Capitol Hill.
But as Covid grows more distant in public memory, convincing lawmakers to spend billions to extend these subsidies has become an uphill battle.In Congress, both the Republican House majority and Democratic control of the Senate could flip in November. This means Democratic leaders may choose to put other priorities ahead of the ACP, while they still control the Senate.
As the Sept. 30 government funding deadline inches closer, congressional leaders are heads-down on the scramble to pass a stopgap funding bill to avert a shutdown, pushing the ACP further down the priority list. After September, Congress is expected to be out on recess until after the election.As some Capitol Hill lawmakers cling to the narrowing possibility of an ACP comeback, the private sector is reining in its hopes.
"What we're focused on is the near-term problem," Carey said."Then we can build consensus to look at something for a longer-term plan."