by Mitch Coppes, Government Relations Senior Specialist, Goodwill Industries International
The lack of affordable high-speed internet service in many households has made it difficult for millions of Americans to access virtual learning, find jobs, and participate in the digital economy. Data from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shows that about one in five U.S. households have no home internet connection. Moreover, historically underserved populations and communities are most acutely impacted by the nation’s digital divide. The Pew Research Center finds that around 40 percent of adults with lower incomes do not have home broadband service or a computer, one quarter of black teenagers say they are at least sometimes unable to complete their homework due to a lack of digital access, and 25 percent of adults ages 65 and older report never going online.
To help extend essential connectivity to individuals and families in need, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $14.2 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP offers a discount of up to $30 per month toward home internet service for eligible households (up to $75 per month for those on Tribal lands), and participants can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Households may be eligible to enroll in the ACP if they have a household income below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line, or if they participate in certain government benefit programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Pell Grants, or Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch.
More than 18 million households have already signed up to receive the ACP benefit, but there are millions more that are eligible and have not yet taken advantage of this opportunity. Goodwill® and other community-based organizations can play an important role in ensuring that the people we serve know about this vital program and have the information they need to enroll. The ACP Week of Action from June 14 to 22, will bring together stakeholder organizations from across the country to raise awareness and help eligible families sign-up for the ACP. There are many ways for local Goodwills to help spread the word about the ACP, including activities like posting about the ACP on your social media channels, hosting an ACP awareness or enrollment event in your community, educating Goodwill program participants and employees on how to check their eligibility and submit an application, or sharing informational materials with customers and community members. Learn more about becoming a community partner and sign up to join the ACP Week of Action at onlineforall.org.
