Introducing the Affordable Connectivity Program

Congress created the Affordable Connectivity Program through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, building on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program created earlier in 2021. For the EBB Program, Congress provided the Federal Communications Commission with $3.2 billion to make monthly broadband service bills more affordable for low-income households. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act adds an additional $14.2 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Program, while leaving in place the EBB Program's basic framework. But the law also made some changes—to the benefit amount, rules regarding plan and subscriber eligibility, and providers’ public promotion obligations, among other modifications. On January 14, 2022, the FCC adopted rules for the Affordable Connectivity Program—here's what the new benefit will look like for consumers and providers.

[Kevin Taglang is Executive Editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.]


Introducing the Affordable Connectivity Program