At a Thursday Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on the future of broadband affordability, Senator Reverend Warnock highlighted the importance of the Affordable Connectivity Program for the 720,000 Georgians who depend on it
During the Future of Broadband Affordability hearing, Senator Reverend Warnock uplifted the benefits that quality internet services can provide for Georgians
Senator Reverend Warnock called out Congress’ inaction on funding the Affordable Connectivity Program and how a potential lapse or end would be detrimental to the more than 23 million Americans who depend on it
Without action on funding, the Affordable Connectivity Program will end later this month
Senator Reverend Warnock: “I often say that broadband is to the 21st century what electrification was to the 20th century”
Watch Senator Reverend Warnock at Thursday’s hearing HERE
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a member of the Senate Commerce committee, called out Congress’ inaction on funding the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and how a potential lapse or end would be detrimental to the more than 23 million Americans who depend on it—including 720,000 Georgians.
Senator Warnock questioned Blair Levin, a Policy Advisor for New Street Research, who was part of a panel of expert witnesses during the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband hearing. During the Senator’s opening statement and questioning, he highlighted the importance of affordable, reliable broadband access to provide vital services relating to education, health care, veteran services, and economic opportunity, also emphasizing the potential impact on specific communities if the program lapses or ends as it is slated to do later this month.
Senator Warnock is a champion for strengthening broadband access for Georgians across the state. Most recently, Senator Warnock led an effort urging the FCC to expand the E-Rate program, which would allow schools and libraries to provide Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators. In June of 2023, Senator Warnock announced $1.3 billion in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The program works to expand broadband and strengthen access to affordable, high-speed internet across Georgia, particularly for the estimated 15% of Georgians who currently lack reliable broadband access. Additionally, in 2021 Senator Reverend Warnock hosted FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel in Jackson County. Senator Warnock has also urged the FCC to prevent digital discrimination by facilitating equal access to broadband internet through its rulemaking process.
Watch the Senator’s full remarks and line of questioning HERE
See below key excerpts from Senator Warnock’s statements during the hearing:
Senator Reverend Warnock: “I am extremely disappointed that politicians in Washington allowed the Affordable Connectivity Program to completely run out of funding this week. This program is critical for helping 720,000 Georgians afford the internet, particularly rural and older Georgians.”
“I often say that broadband is to the 21st century what electrification was to the 20th century. And as you watch Washington dally around something so important, one way of thinking about it is if we are wondering
whether or not people need electricity – is that fundamental or is something extra?”
“It’s [ACP] not just a tool to close the digital divide, as important as that is, and increase our global connectivity, it’s also a health care lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Georgians, particularly rural residents, veterans, service members, and seniors across the country.”
“In a state like Georgia where we are seeing hospitals close, some ten hospitals in a decade, this access for people’s overall health care would be critically important.”
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