Biden lowers internet costs for low-income households

US President Joe Biden announced that wireless internet connection will now be available at subsidized rates for lower-income households. The step to provide low-cost internet for a low-income household has been taken after making an effective partnership with 20 internet service providers in the nation. Approximately 48 million homes in the country are to benefit from this program.

This Affordable Connectivity Program has been introduced under the provisions of the bipartisan infrastructure law. Households that meet either of the following criteria will be given a reduction of $30 per month from their internet bill with the help of grant funding:

The households fall under the low-income group of the country, or participate in either of the following programs:

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• Federal Pell Grant
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
• The Free and Reduced-Price School Breakfast/Lunch Program
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Lifeline
• Tribal Assistance Programs
• Veteran Pension and Survivors Benefit
• So far, 11.5 million households have already applied to participate in this program.

Companies like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Jackson Energy Authority, and Comporium have agreed to be part of the ACP in providing low-cost internet service to eligible households. This has made it possible to receive high-speed and wireless internet at almost negligible rates.

The government has made it clear that all the internet service-providing companies participating in this program have volunteered without asking for any commitments. The president & CEO of Comcast Cable, David Watson, feels this is a great opportunity to reduce the digital divide between Americans.

The White House has stated that the ACP will be covering 80% of the nation’s population, which also includes 50% of its rural population.

To sign up for this program, the government has released a new link https://www.whitehouse.gov/getinternet/ and launched other outreach programs.