WASHINGTON, D.C. — A popular federal program that subsidizes internet access for tens of millions of low-income Americans will run out of money soon, unless Congress acts to allocate more funds.

For most Americans, the internet is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for work, finances and even homework.

Diana Rodriguez of EveryoneOn, an internet and computer access nonprofit, said not having internet at home often hurts students, whose grades may suffer.

“If they don’t have internet service at home, what it means is that people have to go to public access places such as the library or McDonald's,” said Rodriguez, who serves as EveryoneOn’s vice president of programs and strategy. “However, those places have limited hours and their parents may have limited ability to take them to those places.”

A bill passed in 2021 was designed to bridge the digital divide between those who do and don’t have internet access. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal provided $14.2 billion to subsidize internet access for low-income Americans.

So far, nearly 23 million households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which shaves $30 off each monthly internet bill and $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.

More than 1.1 million Ohio households obtain the subsidies. That amounts to 23 percent, the second highest of all states in the nation.

Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, said internet accessibility felt personal for him.

“I grew up in a low-income family. Certainly, if I was still living with my grandparents today, we would almost certainly be benefiting from this subsidy to high-speed internet access,” Vance said. “For some Ohioans, that is the difference between paying $30 or paying nothing for high-speed internet. I think it’s one of those things like food, like medicine, where we have to make sure that everybody has access to it. It’s just a necessary part of living in the 21st century.”

Vance said when he learned the program was set to run out of funds by April, he joined with Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., to sponsor legislation that would provide another $7 billion in funding, $1 million more than President Joe Biden requested in October. A companion bill is moving through the House, sponsored by Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y. and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.

Internet access advocates said the funds couldn’t come soon enough. 

“A digital cliff looms, so inaction isn’t an option,” Rodriguez said.

The subsidies are paid to internet providers—including Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News.

Without new funding, the program is set to stop accepting new enrollments on Feb. 7 and discontinue subsidies in April.

Some Republicans, including Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, have raised concerns about oversight of the program and whether the subsidies should continue at a time when Republicans in particular are trying to reduce government spending. Support for the program, however, may be broad enough to ensure it wins the new funding.