One of the misperceptions about people who are blind or low-vision is that we are not and cannot be as tech savvy as the average, everyday worker or user of social media. Of course, if someone sighted spends much time around many of us, they will see a community that has embraced the use of smartphones, web applications, and gadgets like Echo or Alexa. The question for many of us is affordability. How do we maintain that web presence or grow in our ability to navigate sites necessary for work, school, or entertainment.
The Federal Communication Commission has taken note of this dilemma that many of us face such that they have created plans to make web access more affordable. As Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has low-income options for having a roof over our heads, so the FCC has developed a program designed to reduce costs for having Cable and internet service. I paste this fascinating opportunity below. If you are blind and wondering how to afford in-home technology along with the necessities of food, rent, and medical payments, here you go. Perhaps, this program will give those who have been cautious about having email or getting involved in using social media to increase their independence through web accessibility. More people who are blind or low-vision may be encouraged to take classes at their local center for independent living designed for navigating the basics of the internet and using email.
Here’s the FCC press release:
“
Menu
DOC-395990A1.pdf
Page number
2/
2
Zoom out
Zoom level
100%
Zoom in
Fit to page
Rotate counterclockwise
Download
Print
More actions
Thumbnail for page 1
Thumbnail for page 2
Media Contact:
Paloma Perez
Paloma.Perez@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
MORE THAN 20 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ENROLL IN NATION’S
LARGEST BROADBAND AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM
FCC Highlights Historic Number of Low-Income Households Enrolled in Affordable
Connectivity Program
—
WASHINGTON, August 14, 2023—Today, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman
Jessica Rosenworcel announced more than 20 million households have enrolled in the agency’s
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the nation’s largest broadband affordability program.
Thanks to funding support in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, millions of
families who previously could not get online or struggled to pay for this modern-day necessity are
now connected. Eligible low-income households can receive a discount of up to $30 per month
toward internet service and up to $75 per month for eligible households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop,
desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if the household contributes more than
$10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
“For a long time, closing the digital divide focused on one part of the equation—the lack of
physical infrastructure to get online. But we know that for many people, even when there was
technically access, the cost to get online was too high. Thanks to investments from Congress, we
have new tools to tackle both challenges, including the Affordable Connectivity Program that is
helping struggling families to get or stay online to pay for this modern-day necessity,” said
Rosenworcel. “Enrolling more than 20 million eligible households is no small feat—and
wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of organizations in rural, suburban, and urban
communities across the country who are getting the word out about this powerful program. We’ve
made too much progress in helping families get online to turn back now.”
A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if:
- Their household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, about
$60,000 a year for a family of four or $29,000 a year for an individual;
- Anyone in the household, including children or dependents, participates in certain
government assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, Federal Housing Assistance
or others;
- Anyone in the household participates in the National School Lunch Program or the School
Breakfast Program;
- Anyone in the household received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Anyone in the household already receives a Lifeline benefit; or
- A household may also qualify for the ACP through a participating provider’s existing low income program.In order to reach today’s enrollment milestone,
the FCC heavily engaged local, state and federal
organizations to serve as ACP outreach and awareness-raising partners. To date, the FCC has
hosted or participated in more than 1,400 + virtual and in-person awareness and enrollment events, Unlabeled graphicand offers outreach materials in more
than 10 languages. In addition to closely collaborating with
other Federal agencies to promote program enrollment, the FCC is also conducting a nationwide
paid media public awareness campaign with the support of Congressional funding set aside for
outreach efforts. Relatedly, the FCC has committed over $72 million in grants at the state and
local level, with 228 ACP Outreach Grants issued to trusted state, local, and Tribal governments
and community partners.
Along with extensive outreach efforts, the FCC also highlighted important consumer benefits to
eligible households and outreach partners. These consumer protections included a multilingual
ACP Support Center, FCC rules to protect consumers participating in the ACP, and a dedicated
FCC process for ACP complaints should consumers run into issues with the program.
To learn more about the impact of the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, please visit the
program’s data dashboard. Additionally, for those interested in sharing information about the
ACP with their community, you can find consumer outreach materials available at
https://www.fcc.gov/acp-consumer-outreach-toolkithttps://www.fcc.gov/acp-consumer-outreach-toolkit or
https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/community-resources/https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/community-resources/, including Spanish and ASL
informational videos about the program. For a full list of eligibility requirements and more
information about the ACP, visit GetInternet.gov”
See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).”
Boldly Blind 