FCC Establishes Affordable Connect Outreach Grant Program
Eligible Outreach Partners Will Help the Commission Raise Awareness About the Affordable Connectivity Program and Increase Enrollment   
Media Contact:
Mike Snyder
 
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, August 5, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission today established the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program to raise awareness about the nation’s largest ever broadband affordability effort, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).  The Second Report and Order approved by the Commission today directs the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau to develop, administer, and manage the program.
 
The ACP is already helping over 1 3  million low-income American households bridge the connectivity divide by providing the affordable broadband services they need for work, school, and healthcare and to fully participate in today’s world.  Yet there are millions of eligible households that have not taken advantage of this opportunity.
 
Since the inception of the ACP, Commission staff have engaged in extensive outreach, including numerous speaking engagements and enrollment events, and continue to seek out opportunities to coordinate with other federal agencies.  Throughout these efforts, the Commission has worked closely with trusted local entities that are familiar with the communities they serve.  However, for many of these partners, budget constraints limit the extent of ACP outreach they can perform without additional financial support.
 
To raise awareness of ACP benefits, Congress included a provision in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the Commission to conduct and fund ACP outreach, including providing grants to outreach partners to ensure that eligible households can learn about the program and receive assistance with the application process.
 
Funding for the Outreach Grant Program will come from the $100 million the Commission designated for ACP outreach efforts in its order establishing rules for the ACP.  Grants will support governmental and non-governmental partners in conducting a wide range of outreach activities to raise awareness of ACP and increase enrollment among eligible households.
 
Additional details on specific grant program requirements and the application process will be provided at a later date. 
 
The ACP plays an integral role in addressing affordability barriers to broadband access and adoption by providing qualifying low-income households with a monthly discount of up to $30 per month (and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands) as well as a one-time $100 discount toward a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.  To learn more about eligibility and how to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, visit AffordableConnectivity.gov .
 
Action by the Commission August 5, 2022 by Second Report and Order (FCC 22-64).  Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, and Simington approving.  Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr and Starks issuing separate statements.
 
WC Docket No. 21-450
 
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Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov
 
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).



Date Issued: 8/11/2022