Millions of Black Households at Risk of Losing High-Speed Internet

Sign up for our free newsletters, created for the culture by the culture!

• The Block A weekly roundup of Greenwood, Tulsa and Oklahoma news.
• The Daily Holler Local, state and national news in your inbox Monday through Friday.

Sign up

May 1st marked the end of the National Affordable Connectivity Program, aka ACP. It made internet access more affordable for low-income households in the U.S. According to the White House, 23 million Americans will see their bills increase or could lose internet access. This makes it more difficult to do remote work, healthcare, and learning. Additionally, 5.5 million Black households were enrolled in ACP for high-speed internet.

Background on ACP 

The $14.2 billion program was a Federal Communications Commission benefit, established in 2021 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It’s also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law aimed to boost transit networks, energy systems, telecommunications, and public utilities nationwide. Households who were eligible made a total yearly income 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. 

During the pandemic, ACP gave Black households a $30-$75 benefit, making Cox, AT&T, and other company’s wifi free or as low as $10 a month. This ensured families had internet access for remote work, school, and doctor’s appointments. 

The Impact of losing Affordable High Speed Internet

According to Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to President Biden, more households are signing up for ACP than SNAP benefits; “That’s how important it is to have high-speed internet,” he said.

As early as May, one in six households will see an increase in their home wifi bills. These families could be forced to choose between paying the electricity bill, buying groceries, or having wifi.

“This is 21st-century digital infrastructure. It’s essential for people now to go to school in many places, to pay their bills, to get a job, start a business, and even receive health care,” Benjamin said, emphasizing in communities where there is a lack of access to doctors and hospitals. 

Why is the program going away? 

Simply put, the program is running out of money. The funds should last five years, but the demand for the benefit this year exceeded expectations. It was so high that the FCC decided to end the program by the end of April. 

Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and JD Vance (R-Ohio) proposed a $7 billion request — the bipartisan, bicameral Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act. This would extend the program. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to bring the act to the House floor.  

“Republicans in Congress have failed to act on the bill. So without congressional action to extend funding for the program, millions of Americans will see their bills go up or lose internet access, which is regrettable,” Benjamin said. 

More Stories

• Internet to become more affordable for low-income under Biden plan
• AP: Body cam prompts new look at what killed Black motorist Ronald Greene
• During COVID-19 all families should have internet access, food, water and shelter
• 40% of Black households can’t afford utility bills amid inflation
• Netflix to cut login sharing: “account is for use by one household”

Next Steps 

Many State and Tribal agencies are already working to make high-speed internet more accessible. Currently, 56 States and Territories are participating in the Internet For All Program. For example, earlier this year, in Oklahoma, the Osage Nation received this grant from the USDA to build infrastructure for affordable broadband internet on 1.5 million acres of land in Osage County.

For Native and rural communities, having fast, reliable internet means people can work from home instead of moving out of state or to Tulsa or Oklahoma City, said Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, Geoffrey Standing Bear. “We expect many of our people to start coming back to the homeland here,” he said.  “This should be attractive to keep our younger people here and to bring more people into the rural areas.” 

Bringing in more people means more funds for water and electrical infrastructure as well as business development, “and we can build our communities back,” Standing Bear said. 

Even though ACP is no longer taking applications, Wi-Fi consumers who qualify for the benefit could be eligible for Lifeline. It provides a $9 credit towards the cost of phone, internet, or bundled services. Households living on qualifying Tribal lands could receive up to $34.

Benjamin said it’s important now more than ever for people to reach out to their lawmakers: “We want people to reach out and broadly share their concerns with policymakers that this program is important to them.”