The high price of broadband Internet in the United States compared to Europe has been one of the challenges facing government and internet service providers (ISPs). A 60 Mbps connection in European countries like France and Italy costs around $30 per month. In the United States, users have to pay around $67 per month for such a connection. However, the White House aims to collaborate with 20 ISPs in the country to bring low-cost and high-speed broadband Internet to U.S. citizens. The plan was announced last year, and the FCC approved it in January. Now is the time for the government to do its share. Through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), 20 of the country’s largest ISPs are committed to offering low-cost broadband connections. Also, the minimum speed would be of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps). The program has targeted those who were at risk of digital disconnection. Moreover, ISPs can cover 80% of U.S. households. The White House also launched a new website that allows people to check their eligibility for the program. Eligible users can even sign up for the program through this website. The FCC is also subsidizing $14.2 billion for the program. Here are the ISPs that take part in the ACP program: Altice (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Cox Communications, Frontier, IdeaTek, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Company, Vexus Fiber, Wow! Internet, Cable, T.V.
The White House wants to bring down the cost of broadband access
The United States now offers one of the most expensive Internets globally. The ACP program could be one of the best Internet programs that have ever been executed in the country. The program will cost no more than $30 per month and provide U.S. citizens with a stable, high-speed, and low-cost Internet connection. “From large providers like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon serving dozens of states, to smaller providers serving rural areas like Jackson Energy Authority in Tennessee and Comporium in North Carolina, the commitments will allow tens of millions of ACP-eligible households to receive high-speed internet at no cost.” The White House said in their announcement.
