In late April, funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is expected to run out, endangering three critical years of progress in closing the digital divide. Recently, we surveyed over 1,700 ACP-enrollees who use the Providers app about what the broadband benefit has meant to them and how their lives will change if it expires. Here’s what we found:
- Nearly one-quarter of low-income households surveyed said that they would stop internet services altogether if ACP funding were to expire.
- Survey respondents use the internet for essential everyday activities, including work/job opportunities (44%), education (40%), health care (41%), online banking (48%), accessing government services (53%), finding food (33%).
- 58% of respondents say that affording internet access is at least somewhat difficult, even with the ACP.
- 60% of respondents are first-time subscribers to internet service through the ACP.
The takeaway is clear: Unless the ACP is extended, families will have to make impossible tradeoffs between essential expenses or lose internet services altogether.
It would be interesting to learn what the impact of losing access would have on accessing government services. Will families miss out on services or will families call and show up for services that had been happening online – and what would the cost be to the government if those services (or even providing information on services) shifting to phone in person support. As a former reference librarian, I can tell you that answering a question via email (or FAQ webpage) is much quicker than real time communication.