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☆ ‘Should have been done yesterday’: Rural, older Americans could get hurt as affordable internet program runs out of cash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Brian Fung | Jason Carroll | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

But in just a few weeks, her internet bills, and those of other Americans like her, could skyrocket by hundreds of dollars a year. The program is heavily used by Americans over age 50, military veterans and low-income working families nationwide, according to FCC data. Amira Karaoud/Reuters/FileRural and older usersThe ACP has quickly gained adoption since Congress created the program in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Large swaths of the ACP’s user base trend older; Americans over 65 account for almost 20% of the program. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service.

Persons: Cindy Westman, —, I’ll, ”, Westman, ’, Westman —, Gigi Sohn, “, Biden, Allison Bailey /, Cynthia George, George, ” George, Marc Veasey, They’re, Geoffrey Starks, “ It’s, ” Starks, Amira Karaoud, Walter Durham, I’m, ” Durham, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Mike Johnson, Blair Levin, Johnson didn’t, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, they’re Organizations: CNN, Program, Social, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Capitol, Getty, MSN, White, ” Texas Democratic, “, Comcast, ACP, Navy, American Library Association, Lifeline, Republicans, Republican, New, Research, ” Bills Locations: Eureka , Illinois, America, Dallas, Las Vegas, Kentucky, San Diego, United States, Maine, St, Vermont

☆ Biden administration points finger at Republicans for internet bill hikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“President [Joe] Biden has been calling on Congress to pass legislation that would extend the benefit through 2024. “But unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have failed to act.”Biden has called on Congress to approve $6 billion to continue the ACP. A bill introduced in January by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate would authorize $7 billion. That legislation has 216 co-sponsors in the House, including 21 Republicans, and three in the Senate, including two Republicans. Administration officials declined to say whether Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris have personally discussed the ACP with congressional Republicans.

Persons: Biden, Joe, ”, ” Biden, Mike Johnson, Blair Levin, ” Levin, Republican Sens, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Kevin Cramer of North, Spokespeople, Johnson, Chuck Schumer didn’t, Kamala Harris, Jessica Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel, Rosenworcel, Sen, Maria Cantwell Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Program, Federal Communications Commission, GOP, Democratic, Congress, Republican, New, Research, Administration, ACP, Commerce, Science, Transportation Locations: Kevin Cramer of North Dakota

☆ ACP, a digital lifeline for millions of Americans, is in jeopardy. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Cynthia George is one of millions of Americans in jeopardy of losing their home internet access. Yet Congress is nowhere close to approving the $6 billion that President Joe Biden says would renew the ACP and avert calamity for tens of millions of Americans. Courtesy Michelle McDonoughLike George, McDonough also expects she’ll have to cut back on groceries if the ACP goes away. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service. “You’re taking ACP away from the farmers that can check the local produce prices and be able to reasonably negotiate their prices with retailers.

Persons: Cynthia George, Cynthia George George, Joe Biden, Pedro Ugarte, ”, Gigi Sohn, “, George, ” George, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Mandel Ngan, Gary Johnson, Paul, —, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Scott, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Biden, ” Blair Levin, Bill Clark, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, Blaine Organizations: Washington CNN, MSN, Federal Communications Commission, Program, Lawmakers, ACP, FCC, Getty, CNN, ”, White, Comcast, George, Congress, Paul Bunyan Communications, American Library Association, Lifeline, House Republicans, New, Research, Republican, ” Lawmakers Locations: Washington ,, AFP, United States, Maine, Washington , DC, Minnesota, St, “, Lake Havasu City, Ariz, Vermont

☆ Supreme Court hears landmark cases that could upend what we see on social media
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

More than a dozen Republican attorneys general have argued to the court that social media should be treated like traditional utilities such as the landline telephone network. The tech industry, meanwhile, argues that social media companies have First Amendment rights to make editorial decisions about what to show. Whitaker said Florida’s law is limited by its definition of social media companies, which focuses on large platforms. “We’re talking about the classic social media platforms, but it looks to me like it could cover Uber. Whitaker said social media platforms had opaque algorithms that prevent users from fully understanding how content curation happens.

Persons: “, Blair Levin, ” Levin, Henry Whitaker, Sonia Sotomayor, Sotomayor, Whitaker, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Amy Coney Barrett, ” Barrett, Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh zeroed, Kavanaugh Organizations: Washington CNN, Facebook, YouTube, New, Research, LinkedIn, Web Locations: Texas, Florida

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