QUESTION
What actions is the Office of Technology And Innovation (OTI) taking to maintain connections for Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) enrollees?
1:06:01
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59 sec
The Office of Technology And Innovation (OTI) is actively working to ensure Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) enrollees remain connected, both through advocacy and program extension efforts.
- OTI lobbies at the federal level to emphasize the importance of the ACP.
- OTI is evaluating ways to extend programs similar to Big Apple Connect, aiming for comparable service at affordable rates.
- The goal is to offer Big Apple Connect-like services at similar rates to ACP users, addressing the potential gap if ACP benefits reduce.
- Although the effort may not fully resolve the issue, it aims to alleviate the burden on individuals heavily relying on the ACP benefits.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:06:01
And can you just for the households that are currently enrolled with ACP, is there any specific work that OTI is doing to keep them connected?
Matthew Fraser
1:06:11
Yeah.
1:06:12
We're continuing to lobby at the federal level to look how important the program is.
1:06:16
In addition to that, we're taking a hard look at how we can get programs like big Apple Connect, at least the right plan to extend it out.
1:06:24
Mhmm.
1:06:25
Because of the ACP programs, most of these most of the telecommunications providers have a lifeline service package that gives you Internet service at a very, very low rate but that incident service may may not be at the threshold that Big Apple Connect is.
1:06:44
So continuing to push the envelope with our partners to see if we can get big Apple Connect like services at big Apple Connect like rates Mhmm.
1:06:51
Available to those that are using ACP.
1:06:53
It may not be able to solve the entire challenge, but it lightens the burden on those individuals that are now losing a benefit that they depend on.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:07:00
Yeah.
1:07:01
Yeah.