Gov. Roy Cooper Speaks Out Against Ending The Affordable Connectivity Program

A $30 credit towards reducing or covering certain low income NC residents internet bills is going to be phased out this month. If Congress does not act soon to reenact this benefit known as The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), over 1 million of North Carolinians could be without internet once again.

This could negatively affect the state and country as many rely on internet to work from home and even buy groceries online. Some low income North Carolinians will be hit hard by this decision to end the program. This decision could lead to a decrease in the growth of North Carolina's economy.

Many have endorsed and applauded the success of the ACP including Vice President Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris addressed a crowd at an event claiming the successes of the Affordable Connectivity Program at the Carole Hoefener Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 21, 2022.

Kamala Harris speaks to crowd in Charlotte NC about the successes of the Affordable Connectivity Program.Photo byPhoto by LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Images

Governor Roy Cooper has brought attention to the 1.1 million residents of North Carolina who do not have access to broadband internet.

He gave a speech at the 2024 Semafor World Economy Summit, which was hailed as the biggest and most important event about the current state of the economy.

According to Governor Cooper, the state has been addressing the digital divide even prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Since then, the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program has provided monthly internet subsidies to millions of homes. ACP assists homes with limited resources in paying for linked devices and internet connection.

Roy Cooper speaking in Charlotte NC about success of ACP.Photo byGrant Baldwin/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cooper expressed his extreme concern about the number of people who may lose access when that funding runs out.

"We really can't afford...to have homes (not) connected, particularly when health care is so tied into this," he added. "As we come out of the pandemic, we know we have behavioral health, substance use disorder issues at unprecedented levels. We know we've got to get the treatment to people."

According to Gov. Cooper, the extension of ACP has the support of both political parties among the states.

Nevertheless, he stated that federal assistance is required.

To keep the program going, a group of congressional members is arguing that it should be funded with $7 billion.

Source:

https://abc11.com/amp/governor-roy-cooper-extending-affordable-connectivity-program-nc-digital-divide-2024-semafor-world-economy-summit/14707638/