The National Lifeline Association (NaLA) recently released results from a new survey of formerly enrolled Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) subscribers, highlighting difficulties they have faced since the program ended.
NaLA received more than 68,000 responses from the FCC’s Lifeline program participants and/or former ACP participants and reports that its findings show that respondents are cutting budgets in other areas to maintain internet access.
NaLA board chairman David B. Dorwart said that he’s read thousands of testimonies from consumers who lost ACP funding.
“Lifeline and the ACP bring affordable internet and phone service to the communities who need it most for everything from telehealth to school to staying connected with loved ones,” said Dorwart in a press release. “Lawmakers must refund the ACP and fix the Universal Service Fund’s Lifeline program to ensure all American households have affordable access to essential communications.”
According to NaLA, at least 80% of Lifeline and/or ACP subscribers live at or below the poverty line, and 70% rely on their benefits to access healthcare services.
Of the respondents to NaLA’s study, 40% reported cutting food spending to afford their monthly internet bills, about 20% reported being unable to work remotely, and nearly 20% reported children having difficulty completing homework assignments.
