2024 -- H 7522

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LC004778

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO EXTEND

FUNDING FOR THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, Carson, and Boylan

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2024

     Referred To: House Innovation, Internet, & Technology

     WHEREAS, Access to quality and affordable broadband is essential for living in the 21st

century, helping Americans do their jobs, participate in school, access health care, and stay

connected; and

     WHEREAS, The Affordable Connectivity Program was created as part of the bipartisan

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help bridge the “digital divide” that exists between

those who have access to modern information and communications technology and those who do

not; and

     WHEREAS, The Affordable Connectivity Program supports approximately 23 million

low-income families, including more than 80,000 Rhode Island households, providing those

eligible with monthly discounts toward Internet services and a one-time discount towards the

purchase of a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has received approximately $35 million in funding through the

Affordable Connectivity Program as of January 2024; and

     WHEREAS, The $14 billion dollars appropriated by Congress for the Affordable

Connectivity Program faces exhaustion this spring; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

respectfully requests Congress to renew and extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity

Program to ensure low-income households continue to have access to high-speed Internet; and be

it further

     RESOLVED, That this House hereby urges and requests each member of the Rhode

Island Congressional Delegation to support continued funding of the Affordable Connectivity

Program so that low-income Rhode Island households can continue to receive the support they

need to participate in the digital marketplace; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transfer duly certified copies of this resolution to the presiding officers of the Senate and the

House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of

the Rhode Island Congressional delegation.

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