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ITIF Plan Would Drain Billions from USF to Fund New ACP

Group says the country needs to elevate affordability over availability

Blake Ledbetter

Blake Ledbetter

— 1 min read
ITIF Plan Would Drain Billions from USF to Fund New ACP
Photo by Kenny Eliason / Unsplash

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2025 – A new plan calls for sunsetting a major broadband deployment support program for rural America to fund a new program designed to make monthly broadband service affordable for millions of eligible households.

The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation released Monday a blueprint for revitalizing the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided a $30 monthly discount on monthly broadband bills for low income. When the ACP ran out of money on May 31,2024, it was helping 23 million households.

The ITIF proposal – released by Director of Broadband and Spectrum Policy Joe Kane – was predicated on the belief that the availability was no longer causing digital divide issues, but rather the cost of service was the problem.

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Funding ITIF Joe Kane ACP USF High Cost Fund ReConnect program Lifeline Digital Divide Rural Broadband Association NTCA

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