Counties Welcome White House Efforts on Boosting Affordable Connectivity, Launching of GetInternet.gov

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Counties (NACo) today welcomed the White House’s efforts to secure high-speed internet for millions of Americans through enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the launch of GetInternet.gov.  

“High-speed internet is a necessity that expands opportunities for all residents to thrive,” said NACo President Larry Johnson, who participated in today’s announcement at the White House. “Today’s announcement aims to bring all stakeholders together to help connect some of our most disconnected communities.”

NACo’s Broadband Task Force Report outlined how a collective approach to closing the digital divide is essential – and this includes elected officials, providers and community partners.

The White House’s efforts include partnering with 20 of the nation’s largest internet service providers to offer internet plan options entirely funded by the ACP, maximizing residents’ ability to reduce internet service costs. Each internet service plan covered by this new initiative will offer minimum speeds of 100 Megabits per second download, and the plans will not include additional fees or data caps.  

The White House is also launching GetInternet.gov, a central website that details how residents can sign up for ACP and find participating providers in their area.

“The absence of reliable high-speed internet is a major barrier to socioeconomic opportunity, education, health and overall quality of life,” said Johnson.

“Counties play an instrumental role as conveners, data aggregators, partners and funders to promote high-speed internet among under-served households. We support a permanent high-speed internet assistance program that can help our residents stay connected and competitive in the 21^st century,” said Johnson.

In addition to Johnson, county officials representing NACo at the White House announcement event included Montgomery County, Md. Councilmember Craig Rice, who co-chaired NACo’s Broadband Task Force; Stearns County, Minn. Commissioner Tarryl Clark; and Palm Beach County, Fla. Commissioner Gregg Weiss.

Click here for the Fact Sheet on the White House’s new efforts on ACP.