Congressman Dan Goldman Fights for Affordable High-Speed Internet for Low-Income New Yorkers

Affordable Connectivity Program Provides High-Speed Internet Subsidies for Over 60,000 Households in New York’s 10th Congressional District

Funding Set to Run Out as Early as 2024, Cutting Low-Income Families Off from Internet Connectivity

Read the Letter Here

Washington D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined fellow members of the New York Congressional Delegation to call for $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in the 2024 budget. The ACP provides financial assistance to low-income households that allows them to afford internet access as well as one-time subsidies for computers or tablets. Over 40 percent of households in New York’s 10th Congressional District are eligible for the ACP. Without continued funding, millions of Americans will be cut off from internet access, jeopardizing their ability to work, learn, and connect with their community. 

The Affordable Connectivity Program is critical to ensuring that NYCHA residents in particular have access to high-speed internet. Only 30 to 40 percent of NYCHA residents have access to the internet and this financial assistance is vital to bridging the digital divide. 

“To maintain the progress we have made to close the national digital divide and further promote economic independence, we implore you to include $7 billion for the ACP via a manager amendment when the fiscal year 2024 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill is brought to the House floor or through any emergency supplemental appropriations package taken up by Congress,” the members wrote. “Without this funding, tens of millions of households would suddenly see their bills increase significantly and many could be forced to cancel their high-speed broadband service and be disconnected from education, health, and job opportunities. This would be a devastating setback for our efforts to close the digital divide and ensure digital equity for all Americans.”

Throughout his first term, Congressman Goldman has fought for policies that uplift working families.

In September, Congressman Goldman co-sponsored the ‘SNAP Access for Medically Vulnerable Children Act’ which helps families with chronically sick children afford to put food on the table.

Congressman Goldman is also fighting to save NYCHA millions of dollars every year that can be used for critical repairs and maintenance.

Read the letter here or below:

Dear Chairwoman Granger and Subcommittee Chairman Womack:

As Members of the New York delegation, we are writing to urge you to allocate $7 billion for the critical Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) via a manager amendment when the fiscal year 2024 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill is brought to the House floor or through any emergency supplemental appropriations package taken up by Congress. As you know, the ACP provides over 1.5 million New York working-class households and over 21 million American households nationwide with financial assistance for broadband access, helping bridge the digital divide. We cannot risk losing a tool that helps close the opportunity divide for students, provides telehealth for vulnerable homebound individuals, and employment connectivity for jobseekers.

Created in 2021 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the ACP is popular with overwhelming bipartisan support. Due to an upcoming lapse of funds, it is now in jeopardy of ending and, potentially, leaving over 21 million American households unable to afford internet access if Congress fails to act. The ACP ensures that millions of low-income American families and veterans can access the internet for work, school, telemedicine, and other purposes. The ACP is the only program that provides families experiencing financial challenges and economic hardships with up to $30 per month towards their internet bills and provides households in certain rural, insular, and tribal areas with up to $75 a month towards their internet bills. In addition, the program provides a one-time subsidy of $100 towards desktops, laptops, or tablets for eligible families. Keeping the ACP alive brings us one step closer to a more equitable society by removing barriers to internet access and promoting economic opportunities.

In New York, almost 50% of eligible households currently take advantage of this federal benefit, with New York being one of the leading states in the nation for ACP enrollment. In addition, the ACP has a significant impact on public housing residents in New York, who often face barriers to accessing affordable and reliable broadband service. Only 30 to 40% of the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) residents have broadband access compared with 97.5% of all New Yorkers. The ACP helps bridge this digital divide by providing financial assistance to NYCHA residents and other public housing tenants across the state, thus playing an important role in helping public housing residents achieve self-sufficiency.

To maintain the progress we have made to close the national digital divide and further promote economic independence, we implore you to include $7 billion for the ACP via a manager amendment when the fiscal year 2024 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill is brought to the House floor or through any emergency supplemental appropriations package taken up by Congress. Without this funding, tens of millions of households would suddenly see their bills increase significantly and many could be forced to cancel their high-speed broadband service and be disconnected from education, health, and job opportunities. This would be a devastating setback for our efforts to close the digital divide and ensure digital equity for all Americans.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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