Rep. Schrier Calls for the Extension of Affordable Connectivity Program

ISSAQUAH, WA. – Today, Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) was joined by Teri Ohta, Senior Corporate Counsel at T-Mobile, and Lauren Paolini, External Affairs at AT&T, in hosting an event to highlight the impact of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and emphasize the importance of funding and extending the program.

Click here for footage and audio from today’s event approved for media use.

In Washington's 8th District, the ACP has provided benefits to 20,000 households, reducing broadband costs in the district by roughly $9,500,000 annually. In total, an estimated 52,000 households in the Eighth District are eligible through the ACP. As of February 2024, 79,900 households in King County are enrolled in the ACP and receive $28.7 million in benefits annually under this program.

Thanks to funding from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, the ACP has helped expand access to high-speed internet by providing eligible households with a discount of up to $30 per month and a one-time discount on necessary equipment like laptops, desktop computers, and tablets. Funding for the ACP is set to run out this month, taking away a crucial resource for millions of Americans, including 20,000 residents in the 8th District.

“Access to dependable, high-speed internet is an essential resource in today’s world. Reliable broadband is key for everything from education to business, telehealth to precision agriculture,” said Rep. Schrier. “The ACP has helped to reduce the cost of high-speed internet for thousands in our district. Investments like this help narrow the digital divide that we see in our district and throughout the country, and that’s why Congress must act to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program.”