In a last-ditch effort to save a federal program that has connected over 23 million US households to the internet, the Biden administration has accused congressional Republicans of putting tens of millions of Americans at risk of skyrocketing internet bills. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which has provided monthly discounts on internet services, will run out of funding by the end of the month, jeopardizing the internet access of an estimated 59 million low-income individuals, including veterans, students, and older Americans.

If the ACP program is shut down, many subscribers will be forced to choose between paying for groceries and paying for internet service, as reported by CNN. Despite being popular across the ideological spectrum, the future of the ACP is uncertain due to stalled legislation to extend the program. The Federal Communications Commission has already started winding it down, prompting the Biden administration to increase pressure on the GOP for obstructing a crucial lifeline for healthcare, jobs, and education access.

President Joe Biden has called on Congress to approve $6 billion to continue the ACP, while a bipartisan bill in the House and Senate, introduced in January, would authorize $7 billion. The legislation has garnered significant support, including 216 co-sponsors in the House, including 21 Republicans, and three co-sponsors in the Senate, including two Republicans. However, experts believe that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson may prevent the bill from reaching the House floor due to concerns about government spending, despite the program's widespread usage in every congressional district.

Blair Levin, an analyst at New Street Research, remarked that "it is clear the program would be extended if the speaker would allow a vote." Levin highlighted the support from Republican Senators J.D. Vance of Ohio and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, suggesting that the bill would pass the Senate. The House remains the biggest obstacle to the program's continuation.

While there is no confirmation of personal discussions between President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and congressional Republicans regarding the ACP, administration officials emphasized that there is currently no Plan B if Congress fails to extend the program. The collapse of the ACP by early May seems inevitable if the stalemate is not resolved.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent a letter detailing the impact of the ACP's potential disruption to Congress, highlighting the special impact on vulnerable populations, including senior citizens and military households. Over 4 million military households and 3.4 million households participating in school lunch or breakfast programs rely on the ACP. Rosenworcel urged Senator Maria Cantwell and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to quickly advance legislation to extend the ACP.

Despite these efforts, the bill's future remains uncertain, leaving millions of Americans potentially facing exorbitant internet bills and the loss of crucial connectivity services.