Having Internet access is crucial for school work or simply
staying in touch.
But a program that helps keep millions of Americans online
is about to end.
Boston 25 News reporter Kirsten Garris explains the hold up
that could leave them disconnected.
Without Internet, I would have to go to the library.
Like so many of us,
Adrian Mcclintock and her fiance rely on the Internet for
just about everything.
I've applied for food stamps.
I've applied for disability. She can apply for jobs.
She can get the phone call about jobs.
But later this month, their service will be cut off
unless Congress acts because the federal program that helps them
cover their bill is running out of money.
The program is going to lose its ability to fully
support everyone who's enrolled at the end of this month,
the end of April. The White House and Congress are
trying to secure funding to keep the Affordable Connectivity Program
going.
Since it launched in 2021,
it's helped 23 million families,
About one in every six households,
stay connected. The ACP gives participants $30.00 a month off
their bill,
and in turn, many Internet providers set their prices to
make Internet free for those who need it most.
Nearly half of those households are military families.
About 1/4 of them are seniors.
The Biden administration has asked Congress to approve $6 billion
in funding to keep the Internet on for families through
the end of the year.
But despite bipartisan support in the House and Senate,
and hasn't been scheduled for a full vote in either
chamber,
critics say that's because of the gridlock for funding bills
in Congress.
A delay that setting up millions of Americans like Mcclintock
to be disconnected in a matter of weeks,
having to go back to the same behaviors we had
when we were home with them,
That's a really hard hit emotionally.
There's a renewed effort to get that funding proposal to
a full House vote,
but it will have to happen quickly in order to
prevent funding from running out at the end of April.
In Washington, I'm Kirsten Garris for your local station,
Boston 25 News.