TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Millions of low-income people are at risk of losing their internet plans or face being forced to pay hundreds of dollars more to get online. A government program called the Affordable Connectivity Program is about to run out of money, which could have devastating effects.
The ACP provides discounts on internet service to low-income households.
Lawmakers have not voted to renew the funding, so the Federal Communications Commission is set to cut subsidies by more than half in May. Without new funding, they’ll soon be gone. That means if you get subsidies through the program, your internet bill might go up $16-$40 next month, and even more after that.
Buckeye Broadband alone has more than 10,000 customers in our area who will be impacted by the end of the program. There are other providers in the region that participated in the program, so the number of …