NTIA Head Raises Affordable Connectivity Outreach Program in Speech

WASHINGTON, AUGUST 25, 2022 – The head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration came out in support Tuesday of an order from the Federal Communications Commission to develop a marketing program for the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Alan Davidson made mention of the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Program, which was ordered by the FCC to be developed earlier this month, as part of his speech at a National Urban League event.

The outreach program, which was infused with $100 million, is intended to get more Americans signed up to the ACP, which provides a subsidy of up to $30 per month (and up to $75 for homes on tribal lands) and a one-time $100 off a device. The program has a little more than 13 million American households signed up, but the FCC said in its order to create the program that there are millions more households that are eligible that haven’t signed up.

Last week, the NTIA said all states have filed applications for initial planning funds from the agency’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, which consists of $42.5 billion for the development of infrastructure across the country. Among the allowed uses of that money is the marketing of the ACP.

In a column for Broadband Breakfast, Craig Settles, who works with community stakeholders to get broadband and telehealth, outlined strategies to market the ACP, including rolling them seamlessly into the hospital visit experience.