Dec 29 -- The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on the requirements for the Affordable Connectivity Program and a timeline for its rapid implementation. Comments are sought by January 5, 2022. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this document, you should advise Eric Wu, Telecommunications Policy Access Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-7400 or by email at eric.wu@fcc.gov.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service and connected devices.
On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Infrastructure Act) became law. The Infrastructure Act provides $14.2 billion to modify and extend the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program) to a longer-term broadband affordability program called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Infrastructure Act directs the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) to undertake a proceeding to adopt final rules for the ACP. On November 18, 2021, the Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the rules and administration of the ACP.
The Infrastructure Act also directs the Commission to effectuate for the ACP specified changes, such as to program eligibility criteria and the program benefit amount, by the effective date, which the Bureau has determined to be December 31, 2021.
The Infrastructure Act also provides for a 60-day transition period from the EBB Program to the ACP for households fully enrolled in the EBB Program as of December 31, 2021. Accordingly, the 60-day transition period for the ACP will start on December 31, 2021 and end on March 1, 2022. The ACP will also begin to accept enrollments on December 31, 2021.
ACP:
https://www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program
FCC public notice on ACP:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-seeks-comment-new-affordable-connectivity-program
FR notice inviting comment by Jan 5:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/29/2021-27775/wireline-competition-bureau-seeks-comment-on-the-implementation-of-the-affordable-connectivity
Washington Post, "Biden’s ambitious broadband funding has a key impediment: an outdated map of who needs it," Dec 14
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/12/14/bidens-ambitious-broadband-funding-has-key-impediment-an-outdated-map-who-needs-it/