Internet Service Providers Commit to Affordable Broadband

On May 9, 2022, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced that they have secured commitments from 20 internet service providers to lower high-speed internet costs for US consumers. The providers are all participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program, a $14.2 billion federal program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to subsidize broadband service for low-income households. Broadband providers who volunteer to participate will receive up to $30/month (or up to $75/month if the household is on Tribal Land) for providing service to low-income households and must allow consumers to apply their subsidy to any monthly plan offered. According to the Biden Administration's announcement, the 20 featured participating providers cover more than 80 percent of the US population. For all of their current or potential subscribers, these companies have now committed to offering plans with 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds for $30/month, making sure all Affordable Connectivity Program-participating households can have access to free, high-speed internet once the subsidy is applied. In this two-part series, we are looking at the price reductions or speed increases committed to by the twenty companies featured in the Biden Administration's announcement.