PITTSBURGH, May 12, 2021 – ACA Connects leaders – Chairman Patricia Jo Boyers and ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew M. Polka — issued the following statement on the May 12 launch of the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program, a $3.2 billion broadband subsidy program that will connect eligible households with free or discounted broadband service during COVID-19.
Commented CEO Polka:
“ACA Connects is proud that more than 300 of our member companies have elected to participate in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. Through this program, ACA Connects members will connect eligible households with robust, high-speed broadband service that can support enhanced connectivity needs – for online learning, telehealth and more. The EBB program builds on the substantial efforts that ACA Connects members have undertaken throughout COVID-19 to help their customers and their communities make it through this unprecedented crisis. We applaud the FCC and USAC for all of the hard work that culminated in today’s launch of this important new program.”
Commented Chairman Boyers, who is President of BOYCOM Vision in Poplar Bluff, Mo.:
“The EBB program offers a tremendous opportunity to help struggling households overcome the challenges of COVID-19, but it is a temporary program with limited funds. The next step is to develop a permanent, sustainable funding mechanism for delivering enhanced broadband connectivity to low-income households going forward. ACA Connects is encouraged by discussions taking place in Congress to make this concept a reality, and we are committed to supporting these efforts in any way we can.”
A list of ACA Connects members that have elected to participate in the EBB program can be found here.
About ACA Connects: America’s Communications Association – Based in Pittsburgh, ACA Connects is a trade organization representing more than 600 smaller and medium-sized, independent companies that provide broadband, phone and video services to nearly 8 million customers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA Connects’ members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their businesses. For more information, visit: https://www.acaconnects.org