Walter Prescher, a Methodist pastor and Army veteran from rural Texas, is one of 23 million Americans who could lose a critical government subsidy for internet access when it expires at the end of May. This subsidy, part of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), provides $30 to $75 per month to millions of people in low-income households. Prescher, who has 12 children, including nine still at home, stated that the subsidy helped his family budget by providing extra money for his children’s sports or band activities. Additionally, it significantly improved his family’s internet speed, reducing homework completion time for his children from three hours to just 45 minutes.
Prescher has been working with the nonprofit Easter Seals in the Greater Houston area to help others sign up for the ACP. He noted that many fellow veterans have benefited from the program by being able to go back to school, learn job skills, apply for jobs, and meet health needs remotely. The connectivity provided by ACP has been vital for individuals, especially veterans, to access telehealth services for mental health issues without having to leave their homes. The bipartisan effort is underway to extend the ACP through the end of the year, giving Congress time to reform and improve the program. Rep. Yvette Clarke is leading this effort and emphasized the importance of the subsidy as a lifeline for economically burdened individuals.
A bill, the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, has gained support from 206 House Democratic co-sponsors and 24 Republicans, including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who is leading the push alongside Clarke. The bill aims to keep the ACP solvent and ensure that over 23 million recipients, including military veterans, continue to have access to affordable internet. Fitzpatrick highlighted the necessity of broadband internet access in today’s digital world, especially for mental health patients and veterans with PTSD who rely on telehealth services. He urged more Republican colleagues to support the bill, emphasizing the impact on veterans’ health care if the program expires.
Both Fitzpatrick and Clarke expressed optimism about saving the program in time before the funding runs out at the end of May. The White House and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are lobbying Congress to extend funding for the ACP, warning that millions of Americans may face increased internet bills or lose access without congressional action. The urgency to save the program is driven by the significant impact it has on low-income households, particularly veterans, who rely on it for essential services like telehealth. Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, when reached out to for comment, did not respond by press time, indicating ongoing efforts to secure funding for the ACP before it expires.
