Last week, the White House announced the partnership with 20 of the country’s largest ISPs for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The program aims to provide the US citizens with high-speed and affordable broadband internet access. The White House is officially starting the plan with a $45 billion budget. Moreover, all states and other entities can apply for the program to receive funds from today. The White House also has a $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Through its Internet for All funding, it wants to provide funds to the IPSs in the country. The ISPs should offer low-cost broadband connections to the citizens. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is responsible for overseeing the distribution of the funds. He says, “In the 21st century, you simply cannot participate in the economy if you don’t have access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.” Also, the states could use their funds to install fiber-optic cables and more Wi-Fi networks. They can even offer free broadband internet access to citizens. “Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Americans across the country will no longer be held back by a lack of high-speed internet access.” Raimondo added. “We are going to ensure every American will have access to technologies that allow them to attend class, start a small business, visit with their doctor and participate in the modern economy.”
The White House will get more US citizens online by 2030
The White House has a procedure for allocating funds to the states. First, the states should file a letter of intent and a budget for planning funds. Then, each state receives $5 million for designing a five-year roadmap for Internet development among state citizens. Much of the Internet for All funding is earmarked from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. After the design of the roadmap, each state receives at least $100 million for its plans. The budget allocation will be based on the updated broadband coverage maps. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will release the maps this fall. Moreover, the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program has a $1 billion budget and allocates the funds based on a “technology-neutral, competitive basis.”
