It is reported that 20 Internet providers such as Verizon, Comcast and at & t have promised the US government to provide lower cost and faster Internet services to low-income families in the United States. Tonight (Monday local time), US President Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris will meet with executives of these Internet service providers and announce these agreements.
These commitments are also part of the so-called "affordable connectivity program" (ACP). The White House said the plan could help eligible American families reduce their Internet bills by $30 a year. With the latest commitment, tens of millions of families eligible to participate in ACP will receive Internet services free of charge.
A senior government official also said on the conference call that these companies made these commitments voluntarily.
About 48 million households, or nearly 40% of households in the United States, are eligible for this broadband benefit. To ensure that eligible families take advantage of this offer, the U.S. government will launch a website (getinternet. Gov) to provide details on how they sign up and find participating Internet providers in their region.
The White House said in February that more than 10 million families have joined the ACP program, the largest broadband payment program in the history of the United States.