By Judy Obae
- ACP’s shortage of funds set to leave over 23 million low-income households without affordable internet access
- Termination of the ACP has damaged trust in government support, raising concerns about future reliability
The U.S. Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a two-year initiative to make internet access more affordable, is on the brink of running out of funds, and Congress seems unlikely to intervene. The imminent end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will leave an estimated 60 million Americans without subsidized internet access, significantly impacting the livelihoods of indigenous communities.
Why This Matters: Indigenous communities, who have benefited significantly from the ACP, face severe impacts, particularly as many live in remote areas where infrastructure costs are high and poverty rates are elevated. As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) phases out the ACP, which provided crucial support for education, remote work, and cultural preservation, many tribal members fear losing their connection to essential services. Currently, about a fifth of people living on tribal lands lack broadband access, and only 22% of ACP-subscribed households had internet before the program’s introduction.
Despite the proposed bipartisan legislation to secure $7 billion for the program’s extension, the potential collapse of the ACP highlights the deepening distrust in the U.S. government’s commitments to indigenous communities and raises concerns about future reliability and support. Subsequently, some tribal governments have considered creating their own versions of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), but the costs are prohibitively high.
What Next: In light of the impending collapse of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), most subscribers admit that they would have to choose between paying for internet and buying food. As such, congress should urgently pass the proposed bipartisan legislation to extend and stabilize ACP funding, while exploring alternative funding sources and partnerships to support affected households. On the other hand, tribal governments should receive assistance in developing their own connectivity solutions, despite high costs, efforts must be made to rebuild trust between indigenous communities and government entities. Meanwhile, comprehensive outreach and support services should be established to help individuals transition to alternative internet options and address the broader digital divide.
CBX Vibe: “We the People” A Tribe Called Quest
