President Joe Biden revealed on Monday that 20 broadband providers have agreed to cut pricing and enhance speeds for low-income people around the country who use high-speed internet.
According to The Guardian, the Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives $30 monthly subsidies ($75 in tribal areas) on internet connection for millions of lower-income households, was included in the $1 trillion infrastructure package passed by Congress last year.
Affordable Connectivity Program
NBC News reported that according to the White House, up to 48 million homes are eligible for the program, which provides internet connectivity for $30 per month. As per the news story of The Guardian, participating companies who provide service on tribal lands give $75 prices in specific locations, which is the equivalent of a federal government subsidy in those areas.
The 20 internet firms that have agreed to decrease their rates for eligible customers provide access in areas where 80% of the U.S. population lives, including 50% of the rural population.
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An adequately high-speed plan is one that offers download speeds of at least 100 Megabits per second. This is "fast enough" for an average four-person household to work from home, do homework, surf the web, and watch high-definition TV and movies, The White House said.
"In addition, the administration asked providers to offer such plans with no fees and no data caps."
List of ISPs That Have Agreed To Lower Their Rates for Low-Income Households
Here is the list of the 20 ISPs that have agreed to cut pricing for low-income people as per the report of The Guardian:
- Allo Communications
- AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom)
- Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink)
- Astound
- AT&T
- Breezeline
- Comcast
- Comporium
- Frontier
- IdeaTek
- Cox Communications
- Jackson Energy Authority
- MediaCom
- MLGC
- Spectrum (Charter Communications)
- Starry
- Verizon (Fios only)
- Vermont Telephone Co
- Vexus Fiber
- Wow! Internet, Cable and TV
What Is the Eligibility Criteria for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Guardian said that if an American household's income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, they may be eligible for subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Biden noted that households earning around $55,000 per year - or those who include someone qualifying for Medicaid - will receive a $30 monthly credit, implying that around 40% of Americans will be eligible.
A New Website Will Be Created for Applications
Meanwhile, NBC News mentioned that to make it easier for people to sign up, the administration is developing an application website and directing government agencies to contact recipients to advise them of their eligibility.
According to The White House, several states and localities, including Arizona, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York City, and Philadelphia, aim to text millions of people in eligible homes.
Biden Wants To Increase the Competition Among ISPs
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with telecom executives, members of Congress, and others on Monday to highlight the initiative to increase low-income households' access to high-speed internet.
The president stated that expanding competition among internet providers in many regions of the country will be a primary focus moving forward, adding that millions of Americans live in areas with only one provider and now pay higher pricing as a result, US News has reported.
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