Brown, Youngstown Mayor Discuss Fight to Protect Ohioans from Increase in Cost of High-Speed Internet

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a news conference call with Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown to discuss bipartisan legislation to protect Ohioans from an increase in the cost of high-speed internet.

The Affordable Connectivity Program reduces the cost of high-speed internet for more than one million Ohio households - in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the state. Brown's bipartisan, bicameral Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Actwould fully fund the program that was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Brown helped to write and pass. The program is administered by the Federal Communications Commission, which projects the program will be fully exhausted by the end of this month - well ahead of the anticipated date included in the law. If the program is not extended, Ohioans could see their internet bills increase by $30 per month.

"Every Ohio family should have high-speed internet.And you shouldn't have to pay exorbitant prices for it," said Brown. "This legislation will ensure the Affordable Connectivity Program continues, providing cost savings for Ohioans, and preventing families from having to make tough choices about whether they can afford their internet bills next month."

"Continuing the Affordable Connectivity Program for all of our Youngstown residents is critical, especially for our senior citizens. The extension of ACP will help continue to allow greater access to services and resources, such as telemedicine, connection with family members, and social connections. This ACP broadband incentive allows greater access for those who are most vulnerable and need internet connections to realize opportunities for growth. I am glad to have Senator Brown on our side, leading the fight to extend this cost-lowering program, and protect Ohioans in the Valley from rising internet bills," said Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown.

Brown has long been an advocate for high-speed internet infrastructure. In August, he announced a $162.5 million federal investment for high-speed internet infrastructure and community projects in Ohio under the American Rescue Plan's Capital Projects Fund (CPF). In June, he announced a massive investment to expand high-speed internet access to bring high-speed internet to 183,000 Ohio households. In October, anticipating the depletion of Affordable Connectivity Program funding, Brown joined 31 of his colleagues urging Congressional leadership to immediately provide additional funding for the program.

See State-by-State level data on the Affordable Connectivity Program here. Learn more about the program at GetInternet.gov.

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