Four years ago, Claudia Aleman and her family had only one way to get online — through their cellphones. Without Internet service on the computer, their youngest daughter couldn’t get homework assignments in on time, her parents couldn’t go to the doctor online, and the English class she wanted to sign up for was out of reach.
Then came a game-changer: The federal government started Offering a subsidy that covers $30 of the family’s $80 monthly internet bill.
But while opening the mail at his home in South Gate two months ago, Aleman found a letter from the Federal Communications Commission announcing that the affordable connectivity program he had come to rely on would expire in May, unless That Congress did not approve more funding.
Claudia Aleman of South Gate said her family did not have a computer with Internet service until the federal subsidy was created.
(Gennaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
“My husband is the only one who works and everything is very expensive right now,” Aleman said. “Sometimes we don’t have $30 to spare.”
“The program brought significant change to our lives,” he said. “Without it, life is going to be hard, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.”
The program, which was created after the pandemic forced many Americans to turn to the Internet to connect for work and school, has 23 million enrollees nationwide — 1 in 6 U.S. households — including nearly half in California. Contains 3 million.
Starting in 2021, it has provided a monthly subsidy of $30 for low-income families and $75 for families living on tribal lands. But $14.2 billion financed through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has gone.
April was the last month of full program benefits, but families may receive a partial waiver in May.
In a letter to Congress this month, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel warned that not funding the program would have widespread impacts, especially for seniors, veterans, schoolchildren, and residents of rural and tribal communities.
They wrote, “Families across the country are now facing tough choices about what expenses, including food and gas, they must cut to maintain their broadband access, leaving some families doubtful that they will be able to afford their broadband. Will be able to continue the service.”
Internet service providers have their own programs for low-income families. People can enter their address at FCC’s broadband map To find providers in your area. California Public Utilities Commission also Provides a list of providers With low cost internet plans.
But finding cheaper alternatives may be difficult. Rural families sometimes have only one provider, and those who cannot afford it have little recourse.
Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) is among 228 bipartisan co-sponsors Affordable Connectivity Program Expansion Act of 2024, which would provide an additional $7 billion to keep the program running for another year. There are 22 Republicans among the co-sponsors, including Rep. Young Kim (R-Anaheim Hills).
“You have to put your head in the sand to understand the value of what this is doing to grow our economy, to expand skills and opportunities for so many Americans,” Carbajal said. Allowing the program to end, he said, “The progress we have made in closing the digital divide will be destroyed. “It will take us back to the dark ages.”
Representative Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) has sponsored legislation to fund Internet subsidies for another year.
(House Television via AP)
But the bill has not been brought up for a standalone floor vote in the GOP-led House amid criticism from some Republicans who say the program subsidizes homes that already have Internet service. He also pointed to the findings of FCC’s internal watchdog Last year providers failed to follow program rules and improperly claimed funds.
one in Last year’s statement, Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said the program was “subject to massive waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.”
in fcc survey More than two-thirds of respondents to a survey conducted in December of 5,300 households said they had inconsistent or no internet before joining the federal program, with most citing affordability. Nearly one-third of respondents said they had both mobile and home internet service.
In October, the Biden administration sent Congress a supplemental Request for $6 billion to keep the program running, but it did not pass.
Carbajal said that letting the program lapse, even if it could be restarted later, would require additional spending on outreach and re-enrollment. He is also concerned that those who would benefit from it will feel disenfranchised and lose faith in the federal government.
California recently dedicated $70 million in federal funding for affordable internet service, equipment and training. Carbajal said he’s happy to see his state acting, but it’s not enough.
“We can’t look at this from a narrow perspective,” he said. “I’m not just looking at the Central Coast and my state – I’m looking at the entire country.”
Still, Carbajal said he remains hopeful something will happen before May 1. He said, similar circumstances were favorable in the last moments also.
In Los Angeles, the federal program has played a key role in the county’s effort to close the digital divide, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through local promotion, enrollment grew to nearly 1 million homes in Los Angeles.
County officials partnered with the nonprofit EveryoneOne to spread the word. Chief executive Norma Fernandez is worried that families will become confused when they see their internet bills rising and not understand why the program ended.
“We tried hard and provided a lot of practical support to get people connected and then we’re going to take it away from them,” he said. “It’s frustrating.”
Claudia Alemán’s family has benefited from subsidized internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program which is running out of funds.
(Gennaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
For Aleman’s family, the pandemic changed everything. When schools first closed, they relied on a Los Angeles County Unified School District program that offered free internet to eligible students.
But the service was unreliable – access was frequently reduced or closed. So Aleman started dropping off her daughter Miranda, now 11, with her sister and neighbors who had reliable internet access so she could attend online classes and do her homework.
“I feel like my daughter lost an entire school year,” she said.
There has been no change in their need for internet access at home since schools reopened. Most of Miranda’s works are still online.
Life improved almost immediately after enrolling in a federal subsidy program in 2022 and getting internet access through AT&T. Miranda started completing her work on time. Aleman’s older daughters, 17 and 21, could do their school work at home instead of at the library or relatives’ houses.
This affected his parents also. Her father, who suffers from diabetes, takes nutrition courses online, and her mother, who suffers from asthma, requires regular video check-ins with her doctor. And Alemán was finally able to remain in regular contact with his family in Mexico.
After learning that the program would be ending, Aleman said she was applying for jobs to help her husband cover the bills. In May, her husband will pay the Internet bill, possibly with a credit card.
Plus, he said, “there’s always the library.”
