The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will use a little more than $7 million to fund pilot programs aimed at raising awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
The approximately $7.445 million will be used for two additional one-year, pilot outreach grant programs. The FCC said that the two pilot programs will test a variety of methods to reach out to Federal housing communities, and work with trusted third parties to assist consumers with completing and submitting an ACP application.
“These outreach grants are a powerful tool to help us reach communities that could benefit from the Affordable Connectivity Program,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “We want families that could use help with their internet bills to know about this largest-ever broadband affordability program, now supporting internet connections in nearly 17 million households. Our goal is to get everyone connected, everywhere as we continue our work to close the digital divide.”
The FCC said it has awarded grant funding to 23 applicants that will receive funding for the Your Home, Your Internet Program and nine applicants for the ACP Navigator Pilot Program.
In a press release, the FCC confirmed that the Your Home, Your Internet Program is receiving $4.995 million in funding to increase awareness and encourage participation in the ACP for households receiving Federal housing assistance. The ACP Navigator Pilot Program is receiving $2.449 million in funding to provide a limited number of neutral, trusted third-party entities –such as schools and school districts, or other local, Tribal or state government entities –to assist consumers in applying for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The FCC said it will announce a complete list of pilot participants at a later date.
The ACP was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. The FCC also noted that eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
