Sean Lazarus’ Post

if you or someone you know could utilize the app here is how to get started!

As the May 2024 funding deadline nears for the Affordable Connectivity Program, policymakers and regulators are springing into action and looking to address the persisting questions around the program’s future. This week alone: - Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote a letter to U.S. lawmakers announcing that the FCC will begin sharing guidance for consumers, internet providers, and other stakeholders about the Affordable Connectivity Program’s wind-down. - The FCC released some guidance for winding down the program, including requirements for notifying subscribers and a February 8 enrollment freeze date. - 6 members of Congress, across both parties and chambers, introduced the “Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024” which would provide an additional $7 billion for funding. Connectivity is essential to participating in today’s world, and the ACP has helped households in need access internet services. NaLA will continue to advocate for the program’s continued existence. Read Masha Abarinova's article on the situation for more: https://lnkd.in/dYeH8tKj

It's #DigitalInclusionWeek2023 - and it's time to make sure EVERYONE is included in our digital society! The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is helping millions of Americans afford internet in their household through a $30 federal subsidy. At the moment, funding to continue ACP is not in the upcoming budget leaving millions stranded on the information superhighway. A brand new hotline has been established to help anyone and everyone call their Senators about ACP. Here's the number: (800) 397-2937 and the associated website: SaveTheACP.org. The hotline works by using the caller's zip codes to connect to the appropriate Senate offices. It also provides the caller with a simple script to make the ACP request. Senate staffers are generally friendly, so this can be easy, quick, and meaningful. Constituent calls are critical to save the ACP. Many senators understand the importance of the ACP, but they need to hear it from their constituents. Offices tabulate the topics constituents call about, so the more calls we generate, the more likely Senators are to act. Call or head to the website today to make your voice heard. Save the ACP! #DIW2023 #SavetheACP

Dirty trick, or just plain ignorance? Our latest count on ACP subscribers is approximately 23 million people who are benefitting from the program. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent nationally to get folks signed up for the Internet discount - now the FCC is preparing to end it all. This is a Double-Double Whammy burger for tax payers who paid to support this outreach, and the recipients - soon to be re-thrown into the abyss of the divide with no access. First, ACP represents an unprecedented subsidy to the monopolies (Comcast, ATT, Spectrum, et al) who created the digital divide in the first place, a kind of reward for financially-bullying consumers with pricing gimmicks that had absolutely nothing to do with cost of service; Second, members of California's most esteemed broadband gurus, the California Broadband Council (specifically CETF's Sunne McPeak) would not even acknowledge the pricing issue as an issue worthy of pursuit, remarking "we need to get everyone signed up for ACP," to now be on the verge of pulling the carpet right out from under those 23 million families and no long term alternatives in sight despite price of Internet being the number one barrier to folks seeking Internet access from home; Third, although valid effort is being made at least to save the little we have https://lnkd.in/g2SUQ8E2, it is not the end game and all engaged, working this beast known as the digital divide - need to have that in mind as new laws, policies are introduced. Pass this bipartisan legislation, but work the long game of fixing price manipulation/collusion among the monopolies.

In 2021, Crowder College began to lead an effort working with city and county leaders, utility companies, local banks, and employers in healthcare and education to discuss the importance of quality high-speed internet in the region. In the fall of 2022, Newton County formed a high-speed internet taskforce comprised of stakeholders across the county to develop a request for proposals to conduct a formal study of the need for expanded high-speed internet. In the spring of last year, a consulting firm was awarded the project and recently completed its study. The results of the study are linked below. For nearly three years, I've watched leaders of the county, city, healthcare, and utility providers, K-12 schools, Crowder, and finance professionals work together to advance this critical work. This is what good government looks like. People in elected positions working with business owners, public utilities, education, and private citizens to create outcomes that will serve others. I want to congratulate the City Of Neosho, specifically City Manager David Kennedy, the Newton County County Commission, specifically Alan Cook, for leveraging the resources you have to move us to this point. As you will read in the report, there is still a lot of work to be done to get infrastructure further developed in our area, but we are now in a position to pursue federal and state funds to bring more reliable, affordable internet service to homes across the area. https://lnkd.in/gU2uPxRn

All of public policy involves tradeoffs between sometimes conflicting, noble goals: accountability, equity, expediency, transparency, quality, etc. I respect the opinions of thought leaders in this article who call for a measured approach for #BEAD. It's important to get it right. But the voices often missing in these debates are the people BEAD was built to serve. Who is advocating for the consumer? The people thirsting for #broadband relief in a digital desert aren't at the table where these timing decisions are made. This is not an academic exercise--this is a problem that needs solving yesterday. Which of the BEAD program steps are mission critical, and which of them need to be bulldozed over to get shovels in the ground and homes connected? This is the question people need to be asking. We cannot lose sight of our Polaris here. The whole point is to get people connected. We must do better as a country at delivering timely solutions with these programs. #internetforall #getitdone https://lnkd.in/g3V4FQ-e

Digital Inclusion is starting to get some attention where it matters. And hopefully it will land on respective public sector decision-making radars, and start to be part of policy thinking / process right from the onset of an initiative.

Arizona Commerce Authority and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) how will the defunct standards of RDOF be removed from recognition as a federal program which prevents successful deployment of BEAD funding opportunities in Arizona and across the country? The Federal Communications Commission recognizes the need for higher standards. The RDOF program standards are speeds UP TO 25/3 Mbps and significantly wireless solutions unable to achieve any, let alone meaningful, value in rural, non served and under served regions. Our state and nation is depending on a successful BEAD deployment opportunity that is only limited completely by RDOF awardees. What can be changed to ensure RDOF is no longer an obstacle? With $42B at stake nationally and $993M in AZ, we need to address a solution or risk losing essential dollars and critical political support for future funding for any type of broadband. I am open for a dialog as I know many others are as well. Sandip Bhowmick Jade Piros de Carvalho Drew Lovelace, MBA, SHRM-SCP, PHR Brad Moline Jill Kuehny Bronner Davis Nicole Umayam Vanessa Fielder Ken Dewitt Mark Goldstein Ian McGaughey https://lnkd.in/gYh36vNQ

The Affordable Connectivity Program officially ended Friday after funding for the federal subsidy ran out. Now, for the more than 23 million households receiving the $30-a-month discount, internet bills are about to go up. Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel warned on Thursday of increased bills in a letter to Congress notifying lawmakers of the program’s end. She acknowledged the impact on seniors, veterans, school-aged children and Tribal households, and warned that more than 17 million or "77% of ACP households in a commission survey stated that losing the benefit would disrupt their service ... or lead to them dropping internet service entirely.” But it might not be all doom and gloom.The Biden administration spotlighted commitments from over a dozen internet service providers to offer plans at $30 or less to low-income households through 2024. Read more about the popular program and efforts to fund it:

Reliable internet service is meeting the needs of everyone, regardless of where you choose to live!