The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) today launched a statewide initiative aimed at raising awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a program designed to assist lower-income families in paying for high-speed internet.
The ACP provides eligible households with a monthly discount of up to $30 per month and a one-time $100 discount toward a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. While 1.6 million Georgia households are eligible for the ACP, only 34% of those eligible have enrolled so far.
In partnership with EducationSuperHighway, a national non-profit working to close the broadband affordability gap, we are building a coalition of local stakeholders and trusted institutions to overcome complex awareness, trust, and enrollment barriers that prevent households in the nation’s most in-need communities from enrolling.
Without high-speed internet access at home, Georgia students can’t complete schoolwork outside the classroom, and households can’t work remotely, or access healthcare, job training, the social safety net, or critical government services.
“Broadband is one of the most transformative technologies of our generation, but many people are left behind because they don’t have reliable, affordable access to the internet,” said Jessica Simmons, Deputy State Chief Information Officer for Broadband and Special Projects. “The Affordable Connectivity Program covers most, and in many cases all, of the cost of high-speed internet for millions of eligible American families. This initiative provides a great opportunity for us to work together to expand outreach and get more Georgians connected.”
The new initiative will utilize state outreach channels to directly raise awareness about the ACP among households, while also fostering collaboration between local governments, community-based organizations, and trusted institutions. The goal is to effectively reach unconnected Georgians and ensure they have access to the benefits of the…
Read the full article here