Luján Highlights Growing Bipartisan Momentum for Affordable Connectivity Program Push

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, announced additional co-sponsors for his amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 to strengthen the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), complete the equipment removal of China-based companies, Huawei and ZTE, and allow the FCC to reauction certain spectrum licenses to create more responsive networks for consumers…

Senator Luján also announced the support of more than 20 advocacy groups. Their statements of support are available HERE...

“The R Street Institute is proud to support this important proposal to extend both Rip and Replace and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with an appropriate pay-for. This proposal makes meaningful reforms to target customers most in need and streamline eligibility requirements, which R Street has long supported achieving in a revenue-neutral way. While this will only temporarily extend the ACP, R Street hopes the efforts of the Universal Service Fund (USF) working group continues to find a solution and permanent home for this program within USF,” said Jonathan Cannon, Policy Counsel Technology & Innovation at the R Street Institute.

Text of the amendment is available HERE.