Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Affordability/Cost/Price

Author:

Grace Tepper

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Tue, 09/12/2023

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Daily Digest 9/11/2023

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Tue, 09/12/2023

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https://www.benton.org/blog/affordable-connectivity-program-and-rural-america

The Affordable Connectivity Program and Rural America

benton — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 17:38:37 +0000

Households in rural America are overcoming significant headwinds as they sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefit at a higher rate than urban counterparts. Through April 2023, ACP enrollment data shows that: 15% of all rural households have enrolled in ACP and 14% of households in metro or urban areas have enrolled in the benefit. Even this modest difference is striking given the tensions that buffet rural residents as they consider enrolling in ACP. On the one hand, rural areas have characteristics that improve ACP enrollment according to the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s Affordable Connectivity Program Enrollment Performance Tool . Nearly half (49%) of rural households qualify for ACP compared with 40% of non-rural ones. This gap is largely because there are more lower income households in rural parts of the country. Some 36% of rural households have annual incomes at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) in contrast to the 28% figure for households in non-rural areas. There is a positive correlation between areas with a large share of eligible households and ACP enrollment.

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Benton Original Content

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Some 230,000 more rural households have signed up for ACP than predicted

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Wed, 06/28/2023

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Daily Digest 6/27/2023

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Tue, 06/27/2023

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https://www.benton.org/blog/benton-institute-acp-performance-tool

The Benton Institute ACP Performance Tool

benton — Tue, 02 May 2023 11:40:28 +0000

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is at an inflection point. Launched in early 2022, ACP provides 17 million households up to $30/month in subsidies to offset the cost of broadband. But the program faces two critical challenges. First, less than a third of eligible households currently participate in the program—mainly because the people who could benefit most from the subsidy are unaware that it exists. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), local governments, and digital equity groups are stepping up efforts to improve ACP awareness and participation. Targeted outreach is needed to inform these households about the ACP and could benefit from analysis of the patterns of ACP enrollment. Second, as successful as the program has been, ACP subsidies are at risk without Congressional action in the coming months. The initial ACP investment is dwindling which could mean the program will have to sunset in the next year. Analysis of enrollment patterns will show policymakers and advocates which places may suffer most from the program’s termination. The Benton Institute’s ACP Performance Tool is a resource for any community that wants to answer the question: “How are ACP sign-ups going?” To answer, search a 5-digit zip code on the tool’s website. The ACP Performance Tool returns results that show two important numbers for the zip code area: 1) how many households have signed up for ACP (from government data) and 2) the expected number of households enrolled.

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Benton Original Content

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The Benton Institute’s ACP Performance Tool is a resource for any community that wants to answer the question: “How are ACP sign-ups going?”

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Author:

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Brian Whitacre

Hernan Galperin

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Tue, 05/02/2023

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Daily Digest 5/1/2023

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Tue, 05/02/2023

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Research

Federal Communications Commission

Federal Agency

Federal Broadband Programs

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

Gov performance

Data & Mapping

Adoption

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Legislation

Level of Government

Federal

Marginalized Populations

Low-income

Research

Headlines Specific Topic:

Benton Foundation

Half of ACP-Eligible Households Still Unaware of the Program

benton — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 11:27:12 +0000

After a year of operation, half of all households eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) internet subsidy are unaware of the benefit. A January 2023 survey of low-income households finds that over 50% say they have never heard of the program or do not know anything about it. Although many eligible households are unaware of ACP, the survey points to ways in which policymakers and community leaders can encourage enrollment. First, outreach can make a difference. Some 37% of eligible households that knew little about the program say they would be likely to apply with more information and 31% said they would be likely to apply if they knew whether they qualified. The other part of the picture is digital skills. The survey finds that respondents with high levels of confidence in their digital skills are nearly twice as likely to have successfully signed up for ACP than those with less confidence in their digital skills. Some 26% of those with high levels of digital skills reported that they had successfully enrolled in ACP compared with only 14% of those with low levels of digital skills. The survey also found that, among households that have enrolled in ACP for a fixed home service, most still pay something for internet service. When asked what they pay for internet service after the ACP subsidy, the median figure cited households that had signed up for fixed service was $40 per month. The sum of the ACP subsidy ($30) and the median remaining fee ($40) is in line with the average monthly bill ($75) U.S. households pay for service.

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Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/blog/half-acp-eligible-households-still-unaware-program

Teaser:

New Survey Shows that Outreach to Trusted Anchor Institutions and Digital Skills Training can Help

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Author:

Brian Whitacre

https://www.benton.org/blog/understanding-and-driving-enrollment-affordable-conn…

Alejandro Alvarado Rojas

Hernan Galperin

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Fri, 03/17/2023

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Daily Digest 3/16/2023

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Fri, 03/17/2023

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Op-Ed

Understanding and Driving Enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program

dclay@benton.org — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 16:59:03 +0000

Fitting the monthly cost of a broadband subscription into a low-income household budget is difficult, to say the least, because of the costs of competing necessities like lodging, food, and healthcare. These financial pressures—and unexpected expenses—keep too many people in the U.S. from subscribing to home broadband service—or cause them to drop service at times to make ends meet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress recognized these obstacles for low-income people and created a program—first called the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program—to reduce the monthly costs of connectivity. With passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021, Congress turned the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit Program into a longer-term subsidy. Launched in January 2022 with $14.2 billion in funding, the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a critical component of the ongoing federal investment in broadband adoption. Eligible households receive $30/month (and up to $75/month on Tribal lands) to defray the cost of internet service, as well as up to $100 towards the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. On January 18, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society hosted a panel discussion on ACP enrollment. Drew Garner, the State Broadband Policy Advisor at Common Sense Media, moderated the panel. He began the discussion by noting the three steps low-income households must complete before they begin enjoying ACP benefits: first, they must confirm that their household is eligible to participate in the program; then they must complete an application to be enrolled in ACP; and, finally, they must choose an internet service provider and pick a plan to subscribe to.

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Despite its success, ACP observers estimate that the program will run out of current funding by mid-2024, thus digital equity advocates must convince Congress to fund the program for low-income households.

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Fri, 01/20/2023

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Daily Digest 1/19/2023

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Thu, 01/19/2023

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https://www.benton.org/blog/its-no-time-disarm-war-against-digital-divide

It’s No Time to Disarm in the War Against the Digital Divide

benton — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 12:43:15 +0000

The pandemic spurred policymakers and community leaders around the country to create programs to connect those without home broadband service or computers. These programs have had an impact. New government data show sharp increases in broadband and computer adoption in the 2019-to-2021 time frame. Initiatives such as the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) have helped address “subscription vulnerability” for low-income households. With progress evident, it is time to extend and build on the ACP and local affordability programs. Recently released data from the American Community Survey shows wireline broadband adoption grew by 4.7 points between 2019 and 2021, more than twice the 2.0 points of growth between 2017 and 2019. This suggests that pandemic-driven initiatives to address home adoption gaps have had an impact. (Read more in Broadband Benefit Programs are Helping to Close the Digital Divide.)

[John B. Horrigan is a Benton Senior Fellow. He is a national expert on technology adoption, digital inclusion, and evaluating the outcomes and impacts of programs designed to promote communications technology adoption and use.]

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Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Broadband Benefit Programs are Helping to Close the Digital Divide.

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https://www.benton.org/blog/future-universal-service-still-future

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Tue, 11/29/2022

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Daily Digest 11/28/2022

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Tue, 11/29/2022

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Research

The Future of Universal Service is Still in the Future

benton — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 11:20:32 +0000

When it comes to broadband, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is about more than money. For example, Congress also directed the Federal Communications Commission to consider the impact of the law's $65 billion broadband investment on the FCC's existing broadband support programs under the umbrella of the Universal Service Fund (known to wonks as the USF). Congress asked for a report on the future of the USF including the FCC's options for improving its effectiveness in achieving the universal service goals for broadband in light of this COVID-era legislation including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Congress explicitly said that the FCC could make recommendations on further actions the Commission and Congress could take to improve the ability of the FCC to achieve the universal service goals for broadband, but the FCC could not make recommendations that in any way reduce the congressional mandate to achieve the universal service goals for broadband. Recommendations could expand the universal service goals for broadband, if the FCC believes such an expansion is in the public interest. The FCC sent that report to Congress this week and below we look at what the FCC is recommending about its universal goals for broadband, the four main USF programs, and how the USF is paid for.

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The FCC releases the Report on the Future of the Universal Service Fund

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Fri, 08/19/2022

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Daily Digest 8/18/2022

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Fri, 08/19/2022

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Community Anchor Institutions

Libraries

Healthcare Facilities

Adoption

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

Universal Service Fund

Rural Health Care

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

E-rate/Schools and Libraries Program

5G Fund for Rural America

An Update on Affordable Connectivity Program Enrollment

Grace Tepper — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 17:27:35 +0000

On August 2, the White House released fact sheets highlighting how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is impacting all 50 states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Tribal communities. The law invests $65 billion to provide affordable, high-speed internet to every American—including $14.2 billion in the Affordable Connectivity Program which cuts internet bills by up to $30 per month, or $75 for households on Tribal lands, and provides a one-time $100 discount for a connected device. Generally, households are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if their annual income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The White House fact sheets offer a snapshot of the challenges each area in the US faces in achieving universal broadband.

[Kevin Taglang is executive editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.]

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Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/blog/update-affordable-connectivity-program-enrollment

Teaser:

The White House's newly released fact sheets offer a snapshot of the challenges each area in the US faces in achieving universal broadband.

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Mon, 08/08/2022

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Daily Digest 8/5/2022

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Fri, 08/05/2022

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https://www.benton.org/blog/treasurys-capital-projects-fund-boosts-marylands-net…

Adoption

Treasury's Capital Projects Fund Boosts Maryland's Network Infrastructure Grant Program

Grace Tepper — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 15:41:09 +0000

Maryland wants broadband networks to reach everyone in the state. Its efforts got a boost this week when the US Department of the Treasury approved the state's plan to apply 55 percent of its allocation from the Capital Projects Fund towards broadband deployment. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that just 2.6 percent of Marylanders lack access to broadband networks that can deliver speeds of 25 Mbps downloads and 3 Mbps uploads. The number is higher for Maryland's rural areas where 7.1 percent of residents do not have broadband access. On July 14, 2022, the US Treasury approved Maryland's plan for $95 million in Capital Projects Fund support. Maryland estimates it will connect 16,667 homes and businesses through its competitive broadband grant program. The program aims to close the racial and socioeconomic digital divide across the state. As reported by Maryland, estimates show that investments made using the Capital Projects Fund will serve approximately 30 percent of locations still lacking high-speed internet access in the state. The operators of Maryland networks that receive Capital Projects Fund support will still be responsible to contribute matching funds, provide internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps symmetrical to households and businesses upon project completion, and participate in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, a $30 per month subsidy for low-income families.

[Kevin Taglang is executive editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.]

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Benton Original Content

Teaser:

The US Department of the Treasury approves Maryland's plan to apply 55 percent of its allocation from the Capital Projects Fund towards broadband deployment.

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Send date:

Mon, 07/18/2022

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Daily Digest 7/15/2022

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Fri, 07/15/2022

Coverage Type:

Infrastructure

https://www.ntia.gov/press-release/2022/all-50-states-us-territories-and-distric…

All 50 States, US Territories, and the District of Columbia Join Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All Initiative

Grace Tepper — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 17:14:07 +0000

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that all states and territories have confirmed their participation in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative announced in May 2022. The Administration engaged in a comprehensive outreach and technical assistance campaign to ensure no state or territory was left behind. The $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program enables states and territories to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. A separate State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program supports developing digital skills training and workforce development plans. In total, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds $65 billion to ensure all Americans have access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet. Digital Equity applications were due July 12th and all Letters of Intent to participate in the BEAD program were submitted ahead of the July 18th deadline. Hundreds of Tribal Nations have also submitted Letters of Intent to participate in the State Digital Equity Planning Grant program. Tribal entities can also apply for subgrants through their state or territory’s digital equity program.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announces that all states and territories have confirmed their participation in the Internet for All initiative.

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National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Send date:

Thu, 07/14/2022

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Daily Digest 7/13/2022

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Wed, 07/13/2022

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Press Release

Infrastructure