(NAFB) A rural internet subsidy program could be phased out. Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to the President, says the Biden Administration requested six billion dollars to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program back in October. The subsidy helps reduce high-speed internet plans by 30 to 75 dollars a month.
If Congress does not take action, Perez says it will not have enough funding to continue helping the nearly 23 million households using it.
The Federal Communications Commission says the subsidy will sunset in a few months without funding. As part of that, Paloma Perez with the FCC says, as of this week, the Affordable Connectivity Program will no longer accept new enrollments.
Paloma Perez says affordable, reliable internet is critical for rural Americans. It’s how they get education, health care, and, of course, use precision agriculture..
Tom Perez says the Biden Administration wants to provide access to affordable high-speed internet to all Americans by the end of the decade and is pushing for 90 billion dollars in the Investing in America Agenda.
Senior Presidential Adviser Tom Perez.
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Submitted by Chad Smith on Thu, 02/08/2024 – 11:53
Source: FBRD (Farm Broadcaster)
Audio provided by David Geiger, WHO, Des Moines, Iowa
