The ACP 'Saved My Life': Real People Share the Real Cost of Losing Affordable Internet

Former Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) enrollees have had to make a number of compromises to keep their internet on since it ended a year ago. A January survey from the National Lifeline Association found that nearly 40% of people enrolled in the program said they had to reduce spending on food to afford their new internet bill. 41% cut back on necessities like clothing, heat and doctor’s visits. Another 18% said their kids had difficulty completing homework assignments. But the number that sticks out the most was the 64% who said they’re unable to maintain regular contact with family and loved ones. Life without an internet connection can be incredibly isolating. One analysis by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society found that a dollar spent on the ACP returns nearly two dollars in impacts to those using the program. Another study from The Brattle Group determined that the ACP generated nearly $30 billion in annual savings through improved access to telehealth services alone. “If you lose your job and miss a bill, you're not eligible for their low-cost plan,” said Drew Garner, a director of policy engagement for the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. “The existing low-cost plans are a drop in the bucket. The ACP was the real key.” “It took a lot of work to get people signed up, and it took a lot of organizations putting their legitimacy on the line,” said Revati Prasad, executive director for the nonprofit Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. “There's this loss of trust.”