Letter to Congress on Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act

Letter  • 03/20/2024

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March 20, 2024

To the Members of the United States Congress:

The undersigned organizations representing the business community across the United States strongly support the “Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act.” Internet affordability is vital to facilitating economic growth and maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness.

The Internet empowers businesses to reach new customers, efficiently provide critical services such as banking and healthcare, recruit workers, increase productivity, and boost exports, while allowing consumers access to innovative products and services.

Moreover, broadband access is intertwined with economic growth. One study found that increased broadband adoption and higher internet speeds accounted for $1.3 trillion of 2020 GDP. In rural areas, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond discovered that broadband access leads to more jobs, news business starts, higher home values, and population growth. Finally, for small businesses, Internet access is essential. A 2023 U.S. Chamber of Commerce study found that 67% of small businesses believe that broadband Internet adoption is important to their firm, and nearly three quarters of small businesses stated that digital tools helped them compete with larger companies and hire more workers.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), to provide a monthly benefit for lower-income Americans to purchase Internet service. For many Americans, Internet affordability is a barrier to broadband access limiting its economic and competitiveness benefits. Today, more than 22.5 million American households have enrolled in the program, particularly benefiting seniors, veterans, and both rural and urban communities.

However, funding for the ACP is projected to be exhausted by April, putting the Internet service for millions of Americans at risk. A February 2024 survey found that 77% of ACP recipients stated that a lapse in funding would disrupt their Internet service. Therefore, Congressional action is needed to maintain certainty for program recipients and enable the private sector to reap the benefits of increased Internet adoption.

We strongly support the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act and ask that it be enacted expeditiously to ensure millions of Americans remain connected.

Sincerely,

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Alabama

Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce
Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information
Shoals Chamber of Commerce

Alaska

Alaska Chamber

Arizona

Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Glendale Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Chamber
Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Northwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce
Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce DBA, Sky Islands Regional Partnership
Tempe Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Metro Chamber
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce

California

California Chamber of Commerce
Antelope Valley Chambers of Commerce
Brea Chamber of Commerce
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce
Dana Point Chamber of Commerce
Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater High Desert Chamber
Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
North San Diego Business Chamber
Orange County Business Council
Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce
Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce
Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce
Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce
West Ventura County Business Alliance

Florida

Chamber of Commerce Pinellas Park
Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Marco Island Chamber of Commerce
South Dade Chamber of Commerce

Georgia

Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greene County Chamber of Commerce
Talbot County Chamber of Commerce

Hawaii

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
Kapolei Chamber of Commerce

Idaho

Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Illinois

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce
Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce
Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce
Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce

Indiana

Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Crossroads Chamber
Fulton County Chamber of Commerce
Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce
Perry County Chamber of Commerce
Schererville Chamber of Commerce
Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce
Wells County Chamber of Commerce

Iowa

Greater Des Moines Partnership

Kentucky

Commerce Lexington
Union County KY Chamber of Commerce

Maine

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce

Massachusetts

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Michigan

Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber
Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce
Detroit Regional Chamber
Fenton & Linden Regional Chamber of Commerce
Grand Rapids Chamber
Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Minnesota

Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Missouri

Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Montana

Montana Chamber of Commerce
Billings Chamber of Commerce
Helena Area Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce

Nebraska

Nebraska Chamber of Commerce
Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership
Seward County Broadband Task Force

Nevada

Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce

New Hampshire

Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

New York

Capital Region Chamber

North Carolina

NC Chamber
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Benson Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Caldwell Chamber
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce
Moore County Chamber of Commerce
Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce
Yancey County Chamber of Commerce

Ohio

Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
Huber Heights Chamber of Commerce
Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce
Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce
Troy Area Chamber of Commerce
Trotwood Chamber of Commerce
Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Union County Chamber of Commerce
Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber

Oregon

Oregon Business & Industry
Albany Area Chamber of Commerce
Canby Area Chamber of Commerce

Lake County Chamber of Commerce
Newport Chamber of Commerce
Portland Metro Chamber
Salem Area Chamber of Commerce
Tigard Chamber of Commerce

Pennsylvania

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce
Harrisburg Regional Chamber
Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce
Lancaster Chamber
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce

Rhode Island

East Bay Chamber of Commerce
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce

South Carolina

Aiken Chamber of Commerce
Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
Destination North Myrtle Beach
Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce
Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce
Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce
Kershaw County (SC) Chamber of Commerce
Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development

South Dakota

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Tennessee

Kingsport Chamber
Knoxville Chamber

Utah

Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce
South Valley Chamber of Commerce

Virginia

Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Chamber RVA
Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance

Washington

Bellevue Chamber
Covington Chamber of Commerce
Greater Grays Harbor Inc.
Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce
Economic Alliance Snohomish County
Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce
Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce
Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce
Sno Valley Chamber of Commerce

Wisconsin

Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce

Wyoming

Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce
Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce