The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has revealed that more than 20 million households across the United States are now receiving reduced-cost internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide.

The ACP offers $30 monthly subsidies to eligible households, with those on tribal lands potentially receiving up to $75 per month to assist with internet access expenses.

Eligibility for the program is determined by meeting specific criteria, such as participating in government assistance programs like SNAP or Medicaid, having an income below a certain threshold, or recently receiving federal Pell grants.

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The ACP was established as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law nearly two years ago, replacing a pandemic-era aid effort.

The program’s rapid adoption has been significant, with enrollment figures exceeding 10 million households shortly after its launch, and growing to more than 16 million by early 2022.

New enrollments have continued at a rate of over half a million households per month since then.

While the program has gained traction and demonstrated bipartisan appeal, it still only covers around 40% of the estimated 50 million eligible households in the US.

Its future remains uncertain, as the initial $14 billion allocated by Congress may be depleted by 2024.

Analysts anticipate pressure on Congress to extend the program as its funding nears depletion.

In addition to the ACP, the US government is also directing billions of dollars towards expanding internet access through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which aims to encourage broadband infrastructure development across all states and territories.