by: Jeremy Hegle

Access to affordable, reliable internet has become essential to many daily household activities—paying bills, communicating with medical professionals and loved ones, online learning, work, and recreation. While there are multiple reasons why many U.S. households lack an internet subscription, cost is often a key reason for lower income households. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was created to make internet subscriptions more affordable, and new efforts are under way to ensure those who qualify for the ACP get signed up.

About the ACP

Despite widely held views that internet has become essential infrastructure, before 2020 little government assistance was available to help lower-income households afford it. That changed during the pandemic when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). The EBB program provided a $30-per-month subsidy to households making below 200% of the Federal poverty level. (On Tribal lands, the subsidy was up to $75 per month.)

The ACP was launched on December 31, 2021, effectively replacing the EBB. The ACP provides the same subsidy as the EBB, and also provides qualifying households up to $100 to purchase a computer or tablet from participating providers. More information on the ACP is available External Linkhere.

Where people are, and are not, benefitting from the ACP

After more than a year since the launch of the ACP, only about a third of qualifying households nationally have enrolled in the program. According to an External LinkACP enrollment dashboard available from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, enrollment rates across the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s district mostly trail the national rate:

  • National: 31.8%
  • Colorado: 22.6%
  • Kansas: 21%
  • Missouri: 28.5%
  • Nebraska: 24.4%
  • New Mexico: 36.7%
  • Oklahoma: 35.7%
  • Wyoming: 18.6%

According to a External Linkreport by the Education Super Highway, there are three key reasons enrollment rates are so low:

  • Lack of awareness: In many communities, 75% of eligible households are unaware of the ACP.
  • Lack of trust: People may worry about unexpected costs, be skeptical about free services, or be concerned about sharing personal information.
  • Barriers to enrollment: Lack of internet access and language barriers make it difficult to access the ACP’s online sign-up portal. The application process can take 30-45 minutes, and 45% of applications are rejected. Many more fail to complete the process.

Trusted community organizations can boost enrollment rates

Community organizations can increase enrollment rates by getting the word out and assisting qualifying households enroll in the program. This role of community organizations might help explain why enrollment rates vary so greatly from one ZIP code to the next, as highlighted in the example below. In the 64130 ZIP code of Kansas City, Missouri, more than 76% of qualifying households are enrolled. In the neighboring ZIP code of 64110, enrollment is just 36%.

The map shows three ZIP codes in midtown Kansas City, Missouri. The map is color coded in shades of blue so you can tell which ZIP codes have which levels of broadband adoption.

Source: Rural Lisc: External Linkhttps://www.lisc.org/rural/our-work/broadband-infrastructure/resources/ruralacp/

New grant program aims to boost enrollment

In March, the FCC announced grant awards to fund ACP promotion and enrollment campaigns. Grant awards across the Kansas City Fed’s District include the following:

Colorado

  • Ethiopian Community Television, Aurora, $200,000
  • Denver Community Ventures, Denver, $125,000
  • Hunger Free Colorado, Denver, $110,000
  • Colorado Community Action Association, Nederland, $200,000
  • City of Pueblo, Pueblo, $300,000

Kansas

  • City of Topeka, Topeka, $90,200
  • KC Digital Drive, Inc., Kansas City (Missouri/Kansas), $500,000
  • Wichita State University, Wichita, $409,800

Missouri

  • Bootheel Regional Planning Commission, Dexter, $150,000
  • Missouri Coalition for Primary Health Care, Jefferson City, $300,000
  • KC Digital Drive, Inc., Kansas City (Missouri/Kansas), $500,000
  • Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments, Maryville, $250,000
  • Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments, Perry, $100,000
  • Ripley County Public Housing Agency, Poplar Bluff, $125,000
  • Meramec Regional Planning Commission, St. James, $150,000
  • Boonslick Regional Planning Commission, Warrenton, $100,000

Nebraska

  • Southeast Nebraska Development District, Lincoln, $500,000

New Mexico

  • City of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, $400,000
  • New Mexico Black Leadership Council, Albuquerque, $400,000

Oklahoma

  • Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority, $241,200
  • The Executive Office of the State of Oklahoma, $500,000

Wyoming

  • Compass Center for Families/Community Services Network of Wyoming, Sheridan, $324,777

How you can help

The Education Superhighway has created customizable ACP promotional materials and toolkits for External Linkcommunity leaders and for External Linkschool districts to launch ACP promotional campaigns. But you don’t need to launch your own campaign to make a difference. If you know people who might be eligible, consider reaching out with information on External Linkwhether they qualify and External Linkhow to apply.

Author

Jeremy Hegle

Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer (CAO)

Jeremy Hegle is assistant vice president and Community Affairs Officer (CAO). In this role, Hegle leads the Tenth District’s External LinkCommunity Development department with re…