President Biden has announced a program to make broadband internet service more affordable or even free for millions of low-income households, including those in rural and tribal areas.
As part of the Affordable Connectivity Program, 20 internet service providers will lower costs to no more than $30 a month or increase speeds to at least 100 megabits per second, the administration said in a statement Monday morning. The 20 ISPs, which include AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, cover roughly 80 percent of the U.S. population, according to the administration, CBS News reports.
Last year’s infrastructure law allows some low-income families to get a $30 credit ($75 on tribal lands) to help pay for broadband, so households that apply that credit to one of the AFC plans will essentially get free broadband, Michael Collins reports for USA Today.
“About 48 million households, or nearly 40% of those in the country, are eligible for the broadband benefit. To make sure that eligible families take advantage of the offer, the administration [has launched] a White House website that will provide details about how they can sign up and find participating internet providers in their area,” Collins reports. “Households with annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, about $27,000 for an individual or $55,000 for a family of four, are eligible for the benefit program. Families also can qualify if they are enrolled in other federal programs, such as Pell Grants, Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income.”
The Rural Blog is a publication of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues based at the University of Kentucky.
