Media Contact: Paloma Perez Paloma.Perez@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC ANNOUNCES OVER $7 MILLION IN PILOT PROGRAM OUTREACH GRANTS TO FUND MORE PROJECTS TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM Funding Will Raise Awareness in Federal Housing Communities and Fund Programs to Help Consumers Sign Up -- WASHINGTON, March 15, 2023—The Federal Communications Commission today announced it is targeting approximately $7.445 million for two additional one-year, pilot outreach grant programs to raise awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the nation’s largest broadband affordability in its history. The two pilot programs will test a variety of methods to reach out to federal housing communities, and work with trusted third parties to assist consumers with completing and submitting an ACP application. Last week, the Commission announced approximately $66 million in outreach grants to partner organizations nationwide to serve as trusted community messengers for the ACP in historically underserved communities and Tribal communities. “These outreach grants are a powerful tool to help us reach communities that could benefit from the Affordable Connectivity Program,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “We want families that could use help with their internet bills to know about this largest-ever broadband affordability program, now supporting internet connections in nearly 17 million households. Our goal is to get everyone connected, everywhere as we continue our work to close the digital divide.” "When we first announced the Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program last year, I was hopeful that housing authorities and community organizations throughout the country would heed the call to help get those receiving federal housing assistance connected. I’m very happy to see that the Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program will be making a difference in 23 communities in the United States, improving awareness and enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program," said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. “Surpassing our goal of 20 participants means that even more families will benefit from affordable broadband and the opportunities that it brings—better employment, education, and access to telehealth, to name a few—and that we’ll learn more about how to overcome enrollment and adoption barriers that keep vulnerable communities disconnected. I look forward to working with the communities of the Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program and sharing the results next year.” Today, the Commission announces that it has selected for grant funding 23 applicants to receive funding for the Your Home, Your Internet Program and 9 applicants for the ACP Navigator Pilot Program. The Your Home, Your Internet Program is receiving $4.995 million in funding allocation to increase awareness and encourage participation in the ACP for households receiving federal housing assistance; and the ACP Navigator Pilot Program is receiving $2.449 million in funding allocations to provide a limited number of neutral, trusted third-party entities, such as schools and school districts, or other local, Tribal or state government entities, to assist consumers in applying for the Affordable Connectivity Program. The Commission will announce a complete list of pilot participants at a later date. On March 10, 2023, the Commission announced $66 million in grant funding to 197 selected applicants representing 50 states and territories. These awards were funded through the FCC’s National Competitive Outreach Grant Program and the Tribal Competitive Outreach grant program and will allow community partners to pursue a broad range of ACP outreach projects. -- Created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. More information on the full list of grantees can be found here: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-targets-over-7m-toward-affordable-connectivity-program-awareness. ### Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).