The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), designed to provide broadband access to low-income consumers, faces depletion by 2024, potentially exacerbating the digital divide. A freshly released study from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) is urging Congress to lend its support to fostering accessibility in underserved regions and enhancing adoption rates by sustaining ACP funding, according to an Aug. 14 news release.
"The people most likely to benefit from Internet access are those least likely to have a broadband subscription," Jessica Dine, ITIF policy analyst, said in the release. “Allowing low-income consumers to miss out on connectivity perpetuates the socioeconomic divide. For broadband access to help bridge this divide, we need to defray the cost of service on the consumer's side. The ACP is well designed for this because it gives money directly to consumers to buy the plan that best suits them, provides eligible consumers with free or low-cost broadband plans, and has bipartisan support.”
The report delves into the economic repercussions of ubiquitous broadband access, shedding light on how access to online versions of institutions democratizes the resource acquisition process while simultaneously eliminating auxiliary costs like commuting and excessive paperwork, the release reported.
ITIF dissects the distinct advantages of specific online entities, encompassing e-government services, telehealth and digital social safety net programs, according to the release.
Unveiling a stark reality, the report underscored the digital divide in the U.S. is largely shaped by lackluster adoption rates among specific segments of the population, many of which are beset by surmountable access barriers, the release said.
To address these issues and enhance data collection pertaining to connectivity, ITIF puts forth the following broadband policy recommendations: sustain the funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, incorporate economic impact assessments into broadband funding initiatives and conduct surveys among households to gauge the repercussions of remaining offline, the release reported.
