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Boston, February 20, 2024
In a compelling move to bridge the digital divide, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Massachusetts leaders, including Dr. Alister Martin, founder of Link Health, gathered at the Lynn Public Library today to advocate for an extension of funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The program, set to expire in April, has played a pivotal role in ensuring affordable Internet access for millions of households, including 366,000 in Massachusetts.
Dr. Alister Martin underscores the significance of the ACP from a healthcare perspective, stating, “Funding the ACP is not just an internet access issue – it’s a healthcare issue. Modern healthcare is intrinsically linked to internet access. The Affordable Connectivity Program fosters health equity and access among those who need it most.”
Senator Markey, a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, emphasized the urgent need to treat internet access as a public good. The ACP, a $14.2 billion program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, has been instrumental in providing connectivity to 23 million households across the nation.
“The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program would be a lose-lose-lose — a loss for families, a loss for our economy, and a loss for our democracy. We must treat internet access like a public good and ensure that everyone is connected online. It is absolutely vital that Congress provide additional funding to the ACP and close the digital divide once and for all,” said Senator Markey.
Leaders from various Massachusetts cities joined the call, highlighting the program’s impact on their communities. Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson expressed pride in the approximately 7,300 households in Lynn currently benefiting from the ACP, stating, “The ACP plays a critical role in minimizing the digital equity gap, and failing to extend the program will cause so many of our residents to lose access to a number of opportunities.”
Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista emphasized the program’s importance in Worcester, where over 30,000 households rely on the ACP for internet access. He stressed, “The ACP is essential, and it is critical that it receives renewed funding.”
Other leaders, including Santiago Garcés Escobar, Chief Information Officer for the City of Boston, Lynn Community Health Center CEO Brenda Rodriguez, and Kathy Bisbee, Director of the Alliance for Digital Equity, echoed the urgent need for Congress to extend funding for the ACP.
Dr. Alister Martin’s advocacy for affordable internet access as a healthcare necessity aligns with the broader call for an extension of the ACP. As a healthcare practitioner and founder of Link Health, Dr. Martin emphasizes the crucial role technology access plays in healthcare capacity, flexibility for providers, and ease of access for patients and community members.
With the imminent expiration of the ACP, Senator Markey, and the Massachusetts leaders are urging Congress to take swift action and ensure that millions of households, including those benefiting from essential healthcare services, continue to have affordable and reliable internet access.