Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman met with the Mayor of the City of Albany, Georgia, local leaders, housing providers, and community members to discuss rural housing needs and access to quality broadband connections.
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in Rural America Tour, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman traveled to Albany, Georgia today to highlight how the Administration’s investments in rural affordable housing and the Administration’s actions to promote broadband connectivity amongst HUD-assisted families.
HUD’s Deputy Secretary announced the department completed a new data sharing agreement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to support access to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) by reducing barriers to enrollment. This agreement means that any family receiving rental assistance from HUD can enroll to receive benefits from the ACP with minimal paperwork. Today’s important updates will help facilitate ACP enrollment, connecting families and residents to affordable broadband. The ACP is a FCC program and the nation’s largest broadband affordability program that offers low-income households discounts off the cost of broadband service and connected devices.
“For too long the families living in rural America have not felt the benefits of investments in housing and broadband. It is crucial that our rural neighbors also have safe and stable places to call home, with quality, affordable, internet,” said HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman. “As the Biden-Harris Administration invests in America, our rural communities are a priority. The actions I am announcing today will help ensure that any family that HUD assists can tap into the benefits of an affordable internet connection through the Administration’s Affordable Connectivity Plan.”
During her visit, Deputy Secretary Todman met with the Mayor of the City of Albany, Georgia, local leaders, housing providers, and community members to discuss rural housing needs and access to quality broadband connections. Additionally, the Deputy Secretary visited a resident whose home was repaired using funds from the HOME Program, HUD’s largest grant program provided to state and local governments to create affordable housing. Deputy Secretary Todman also announced new actions to increase access to quality, affordable, internet.
Since Day One, the Biden-Harris administration has made historic investments in rural America, including in economic development and rebuilding infrastructure. Under Bidenomics and the Investing in America agenda, President Biden is growing the economy from the middle-out and bottom-up, because investing in America means investing in allof America – leaving no community behind.
“Today’s announcement formalizes a significant and coordinated effort between HUD and the FCC to eliminate barriers to broadband access for millions of housing vulnerable Americans. While I’m proud of our work, HUD-assisted tenants are the ultimate winner because they can now enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program for which they are eligible with greater ease,” said FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. “I’ve long said that if we are helping a household find housing, we should help ensure that home is connected. By including HUD data in the FCC’s National Verifier, we have streamlined the broadband enrollment process so HUD tenants can get online affordably and quickly.”
This announcement builds on Secretary Marcia L. Fudge’s commitment to advance digital equity and ensure families are connected to affordable internet. Earlier this summer, HUD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the FCC, to encourage enrollment in the ACP for HUD-assisted families. In 2023, HUD has helped organize and facilitate over 45 ACP enrollment events with community partners across the United States. Last month, HUD released a notice in the Federal Register expanding the Department’s Connect HomeUSA initiative.
All families receiving rental assistance from HUD are eligible to enroll in the ACP based on their housing assistance. To learn more and enroll, visit www.GetInternet.gov or call (877) 384-2575 to request a paper application.