FCC Launches New Affordable Connectivity Program

LeadingAge National has announced the launch of the new Affordable Connectivity Program, the successor to the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Through the program, into which most participants of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program will be directly transferred, eligible households can receive up to a $30 per month discount toward internet service as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 for a device like a laptop, computer, tablet, or hotspot. Those earning below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or who meet eligibility criteria for a federal means-tested program are eligible.

In December, LeadingAge National submitted comments calling on the FCC to use the transition to the Affordable Connectivity Program as an opportunity to address some of the barriers to accessing the Emergency Broadband Benefit program for members, including the lack of a path for automatic eligibility verification for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Multifamily tenants and challenges with bulk internet provision in HUD communities utilizing the discount.

More on LeadingAge National’s December comments can be found here, and more on the Affordable Connectivity Program is available on the FCC website.

Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866