Closing the digital divide one anchor institution at a time.
SHLB Coalition Applauds White House Request for $6 Billion for Affordable Connectivity Program October 26, 2023
For Immediate Release
Contact: Saskya Cabral
Marketing and PR Director
SHLB Coalition Applauds White House Request for $6 Billion for Affordable Connectivity Program
Washington, D.C. (October 26, 2023) - The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition welcomed the White House's request to Congress for $6 billion in funding to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) through 2024 yesterday.
The ACP is a vital program that provides low-income households with discounts on their internet bills and devices, helping them access high-speed broadband and participate in the digital economy. The SHLB Coalition advocates for programs like the ACP and other broadband policies that benefit anchor institutions and the communities they serve.
SHLB commends the Biden administration for taking this step forward to preserve the ACP as a source of affordable broadband.
We also thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the bipartisan group of lawmakers who collaborated to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which created and funded the ACP. We commend the Federal Communications Commission for swiftly and effectively implementing the ACP, which has assisted over 21 million households.
While funding the ACP through 2024 is a critical first step to keeping families online, SHLB also urges the White House and Congress to recognize the need for stable, permanent, affordable internet solutions through sustained ACP funding in the future.
The SHLB coalition will continue to work with the Administration, Congress, and the FCC to ensure that all Americans have access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet, especially those living in unserved and underserved areas. We believe that broadband connectivity is essential for education, health care, economic development, and social inclusion. We look forward to seeing more progress and innovation in this critical sector.
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About SHLB:
The SHLB Coalition is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) public interest organization that supports open, affordable, high-quality broadband connections for anchor institutions and their surrounding communities. The SHLB Coalition is based in Washington, D.C. and has a diverse membership of non-commercial and commercial organizations from across the United States. To learn more, visit www.shlb.org.