Gallego Introduces Bill to Extend, Improve the Affordable Connectivity Program
Over 500,000 Arizona households relied on the program to get connected before it expired earlier this year
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) introduced the Saving Americans' Valuable Earnings on the National Affordable Connectivity Program (SAVE on ACP) Act to strengthen the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), complete the equipment removal of China-based companies Huawei and ZTE, and allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reauction certain spectrum licenses to create more responsive networks for consumers.
"The Affordable Connectivity Program saved Arizonans $17.1 million a month on their internet bills, ensuring they could get online for work, school, and more. But now extremists have let this vital program expire," said Rep. Gallego. "My bill will provide the funding needed to extend the ACP while also cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse, ensuring the security to our telecommunications technology, and cutting internet costs for Arizonans."
In 2021, Congress established the ACP to improve broadband access and affordability. As of April 2024, 522,188 Arizona households - or 1 in 6 - were enrolled in the ACP. Arizona received $345,900,530 in funding from the program, saving Arizona families $17.1 million total each month on their internet bills. Arizona has a higher than national average enrollment rate, with over a million eligible households, with an increase over time. Nationally, there are 51.6 million households eligible with 23.3 million households utilizing the program. The program is especially vital for Arizona's rural and tribal communities, and internet access is often limited, sporadic, and expensive.
The ACP ran out of funding and expired in May.
Rep. Gallego's SAVE on ACP Act would:
- Provide $6 billion for the ACP and modernize eligibility and verification to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Provide an additional $3.08 billion to the "rip and replace program" in the Secure and Trusted Communications Act of 2019.
- Require the FCC to reauction certain spectrum licenses for unassigned spectrum that the Commission has previously auctioned.