Additional Support Also Needed to Defend America’s National Security, Remove High-Risk Equipment in Nationwide Communications Networks

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and 32 of their Senate colleagues to urge Congressional leadership to expand access to affordable, high-speed internet and to remove high-risk Chinese equipment from U.S. communications networks as part of the next government funding package.

“We write to urge you to take immediate action to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program,” wrote Bennet, Rosen, and the senators. “Both of these programs are vital for closing the digital divide, by making connectivity affordable to millions of working families and ensuring providers are able to continue serving rural communities.”

Earlier this month, Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel notified Congress that ACP funding  will run out at the end of April, causing families to see higher internet costs and threatening to cut high-speed internet for over 227,000 Colorado households and more than 21 million working families across the nation. 

“Access to a dependable internet connection is essential in the 21st Century, connecting families to critical needs like work, school, and healthcare, and Congress must not allow the program making connectivity possible for millions of Americans,” continued the senators.

The senators also identified a funding gap for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. This program helps secure and maintain America’s rural wireless networks by reimbursing companies for the cost of ripping out and replacing high-risk Chinese technology. To date, Congress has delivered less than 40 percent of the funding needed for this program – disproportionately burdening small and rural providers. Without additional funding, some providers could reduce access for many Coloradans living in rural communities.

“Estimated coverage cuts would be catastrophic for communities across our nation – we cannot let insufficient funds for this effort to widen the digital divide in rural America,” concluded the senators. “Failing to fund ACP and the Secure Networks Program would be an enormous loss for millions of Americans across the United States and represent a profound erosion in progress made to close the digital divide. As Congress finalizes the remaining FY2024 spending bills and puts together must-pass legislation, we urge you to work with us to ensure American families remain connected.”

In October 2023, Bennet joined Rosen and 30 colleagues to urge Congressional leaders to extend funding for the ACP.  In June 2021, Bennet introduced the Broadband Reform and Investment to Drive Growth in the Economy (BRIDGE) Act to provide $40 billion in flexible funding to states, Tribal governments, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to bridge the digital divide. The BRIDGE Act was incorporated into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 to make the single largest investment in broadband in American history. As a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Colorado will receive over $826 million from the law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which provides funding to build essential infrastructure and connect communities to high-speed internet. 

The text of the letter is available HERE and below. 

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jefferies:

We write to urge you to take immediate action to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. Both of these programs are vital for closing the digital divide, by making connectivity affordable to millions of working families and ensuring providers are able to continue serving rural communities. Congress must leverage upcoming must-pass legislation to invest in these key programs and ensure that families across the country are not left without access to affordable high-speed internet.

As part of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest investment in broadband in American history – Congress created ACP, recognizing the barrier affordability poses to connecting low-income households. This critical law provides qualifying households a $30 discount on their monthly internet bill, up to $75 for households located on tribal lands.

Unfortunately, earlier this month, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Jessica Rosenworcel notified Congress that, due to high demand for the program, April will be the final full month of funding available for ACP. This potential lapse in funding will jeopardize millions of Americans’ affordable access to a reliable, high-speed internet connection. Over 23 million households use ACP to connect to the internet each month. A recent survey conducted by the FCC showed that nearly 80 percent of ACP subscribers would lose or change their internet service plan if the program ceases. Access to a dependable internet connection is essential in the 21st Century, connecting families to critical needs like work, school, and healthcare, and Congress must not allow the program making connectivity possible for millions of Americans lapse.

ACP has been an unmatched success – a pivotal catalyst in providing every American, no matter their geography or income, access to the same opportunities an internet connection provides. A recent report found that for every dollar spent on ACP, households receive nearly twice in economic benefits. That report did not quantify the significant benefits associated with broadband adoption like increased household income and employment, women’s labor force participation, farm productivity, and lower healthcare costs. Additionally, the benefits of ACP extend beyond the households that receive this transformative benefit each month. A 2022 study found that the ACP reduces costs to deploy broadband in rural areas by 25 percent per household. A lapse in ACP funding will therefore limit the positive impact of Congress’ historic $42 billion investment in connecting every unserved American under the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

We recognize the important work being done by the Senate’s Universal Service Working Group to reform and modernize the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, while addressing long-term funding for ACP. Taking immediate action to continue funding ACP today is essential to keep Americans connected while this important work is done to enact meaningful improvements, limit waste, fraud, and abuse, and identify a long-term funding mechanism for the program.

A significant funding gap also exists in securing and maintaining our rural wireless networks. In 2020, Congress took steps to protect and strengthen our national security by passing the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, which required companies to remove high- risk Chinese equipment in their communications network by June 30, 2024. The FCC was authorized to reimburse companies for the cost of ripping out and replacing this equipment, but Congress has only provided 39.5 percent of the funding needed to reimburse providers for replacing covered equipment. Small and rural providers are disproportionately affected and without additional funding, many will be forced to eliminate service in critical areas of their networks. Multiple providers have reported that, without additional funding through this initiative, they will reduce coverage areas by over half, with some eliminating service by 90 percent in certain states, threatening communities’ access to basic wireless communication and emergency services. Estimated coverage cuts would be catastrophic for communities across our nation – we cannot let insufficient funds for this effort to widen the digital divide in rural America.

We stand ready to work with you in a bipartisan way to stave off the funding shortfalls for both of these critical initiatives, including how to pay for new investments in each. Many of us have ideas about potential pay-fors – whether spending offsets or revenue raisers – that can bridge the gaps for ACP and the Secure Networks Program, giving Congress time to consider a longer-term package that sustains these programs, maintains American leadership in telecommunication innovation, and addresses critical national security concerns.

Failing to fund ACP and the Secure Networks Program would be an enormous loss for millions of Americans across the United States and represent a profound erosion in progress made to close the digital divide. As Congress finalizes the remaining FY2024 spending bills and puts together must-pass legislation, we urge you to work with us to ensure American families remain connected.

We appreciate your consideration of this request. 

Sincerely,