Federal Communications Commission	"FCC  XX-XXX"


STATEMENT OF
CHAIRWOMAN JESSICA ROSENWORCEL

Re: 	Affordable Connectivity Program, WC Docket No. 21-450, Second Report and Order (August 5, 2022).

There are now 13 million households nationwide that subscribe to the Affordable Connectivity Program, the largest-ever broadband affordability program in the United States.  Let me tell you about one of them.  
Tiffany White is a mom and a North Carolinian through and through.  I met her when I got to travel with the Vice President to Charlotte the week before last.  Tiffany told me how she enrolled in a class at Queen’s University that provided instruction in the basics of information technology.  This class also put her in touch with the Center for Digital Equity at the school.  The center let her know about the Affordable Connectivity Program and she signed her household up.  Right away, it made a difference.  She stuck with her online college classes.  She could work remotely.  It helped with paying the bills.
The best part is her connection with the Affordable Connectivity Program did not end when she started receiving the benefit.  She now serves as a regional digital navigator.  So when residents of Mecklenburg County call 311 to ask for help getting online, they get a call back from Tiffany.  She explains what the Affordable Connectivity Program is and walks them through the application process.  She’s good at it.  After all, she knows the benefits of this program first-hand.  And she’ll tell you straight up that everyone needs affordable internet in today’s economy.  
We need more people like Tiffany—more folks who can spread the word, more partners who can amplify the good that the Affordable Connectivity Program can do and more organizations that can help us reach those in their community, in their own language, in a way that is accessible for all.  
That is exactly what we are starting right now.  We are building a $100 million outreach grant program at the Federal Communications Commission to make sure that those who are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program hear about it.  This is a good thing.  It’s also something we were told to do in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  Congress specifically directed us to conduct outreach for the Affordable Connectivity Program to help ensure eligible households are enrolled.  One of the ways to do this is by making grants available to those who can help develop outreach efforts.  I’m thrilled that we have an opportunity to provide our partners with resources to get the word out about this program and make sure broadband reaches everyone, everywhere in this country.  
To date, the FCC has held more than 750 events to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program.  We have signed up nearly 50,000 partners.  We have developed materials in 13 languages.  This is what got us to 13 million households.  It is what helped us reach Tiffany White.  But we have millions more to go.  Let’s use this new outreach to make it happen.   
For their efforts to develop this grant program, I want to thank Allison Baker, Cheryl Callahan, Jessica Campbell, River Crane, Rashann Duvall, Joel Graham, Jodie Griffin, Travis Hahn, Trent Harkrader, Diane Holland, Jamile Kadre, Hayley Steffen, and Kesha Woodward from the Wireline Competition Bureau; Eduard Bartholme, Miriam Montgomery, Alejandro Roark, and Joy Sears from the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau; Mark Azic, Joanna Fister, Eugene Kiselev, Giulia McHenry, Eric Ralph, Deena Shetler, and Maciej Wachala from the Office of Economics and Analytics; Susan Aaron, Larry Atlas, Malena Barzilai, Andrea Kearney, Andrea Kelly, Rick Mallen, Brendan McTaggart, Linda Oliver, Bill Richardson, Paula Silberthau, Jeffrey Steinberg, Elliot Tarloff, and Chin Yoo from the Office of General Counsel; Cara Grayer, Maura McGowan, and Joy Ragsdale from the Office of Communications Business Opportunities; Hillary Burchuk, Sharon Diskin and Eric Phelps from the Office of Inspector General; Pam Gallant and Mindy Littell from the Enforcement Bureau; and Sanford Williams from the Office of Managing Director. 
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