The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) poses major challenges for rural North Carolina, where nearly one in four households depended on the benefit to stay online for school, work, healthcare, and daily life. Dalton Bailey’s research shows how deeply rural families relied on ACP, with more than 276,000 households now at risk of losing internet access, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions. This aligns with the Aspen Community Strategies Group’s mission to strengthen prosperity in rural and Indigenous communities by elevating local voices, sharing practitioner insights, and ensuring that funding and policy decisions address real community needs.
The End of the Affordable Connectivity Program: Implications for Rural NC
