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20.500.12592/j3txgr1

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1 May 2024

One of our priorities is to seek solutions to address broadband challenges and to lower barriers to help Americans seize the opportunity of the digital economy. [...] Prior to joining the R Street Institute, I was an attorney advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2020 when the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program was started by the CARES Act.1 I saw how quickly and effectively Congress and the FCC mobilized to implement this program and connect those left on the wrong side of the 1 H. [...] As R Street analysis has highlighted on several occasions, the ACP is “a model of success.”2 The ACP addresses the affordability gap enabling existing customers to remain connected, while also helping customers connect to the digital economy for the first time. [...] And that’s to say nothing of the increase in speeds available to customers.12 With the overall trend of broadband prices decreasing over time, as noted in several studies, there is stronger evidence to suggest that ACP has at least done little to manipulate the market broadband prices. [...] As we highlighted in comments submitted before the Universal Service Working Group, “Before any long-term solution is considered, Congress should at least ensure a short-term extension of the ACP,” which would provide Congress an adequate opportunity “to examine the program’s eligibility criteria to potentially lower the cost of the benefit and ensure that the ACP targets customers who depend on i.

Authors

Christina Pesavento

Pages
5
Published in
United States of America