2024 -- S 2490

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LC005004

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T 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: Senator Hanna M. Gallo

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2024

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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

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

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connected; and

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

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

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

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not; and

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     WHEREAS, The Affordable Connectivity Program supports approximately 23 million

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

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

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

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

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Affordable Connectivity Program as of January 2024; and

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

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

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests

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Congress to renew and extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program to ensure low-

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income households continue to have access to high-speed Internet; and be it further

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

 

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Island Congressional Delegation to support continued funding of the Affordable Connectivity

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

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

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

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

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

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the Rhode Island Congressional delegation.

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