The FCC established the Affordable Connectivity Program in December 2021 to provide access and subsidized computing devices. It’s free to enroll in ACP, but too few people are taking advantage.
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Imagine you had $14 billion, but you couldn’t give it away. The Federal Communication Commission has a similar problem with a key broadband grant program – but telehealth might help save the day.
For better or worse, the internet is embedded into everything humans do, from educating our young to practicing medicine. Delivering telehealth is difficult without the internet. However, nearly 28 million U.S. households still lack internet access.
The FCC established the Affordable Connectivity Program in December 2021 to provide access and subsidized computing devices. It’s free to enroll in ACP, but many people are reluctant.
Telehealth can win over fence-sitters. The universal need for healthcare can make ACP coupled with telehealth a win-win for everyone.
Just about everybody gets sick, or they’re responsible for someone who is sick. “More than half of Americans aged 50 and up are helping an older adult manage tasks ranging from household chores to care for medical conditions,” according to University of Michigan’s National National Poll on Healthy Aging.
The ACP provides discounts on broadband – up to $30 per month for eligible low-income households and up to $75 per month for qualifying tribal households – and a $100 subsidy for computing devices.
While a White House press release indicates that 48 million households – nearly 40% of U.S. households – are eligible for ACP, according to the Federal Communications Commission, only 14.7 million households have subscribed as of early November.
Terri English-Yancy is founder and CEO of Essential Families, a 501(c)(3) that offers “preventive” virtual essential programs to families near the poverty line in the Kansas City area.
This article was written by Craig Settles for Healthcare IT News, read more here
