Through October 2023, only 296,000 households of the more than 1.1 million eligible in the state have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, according to The White House.
That’s barely higher than a quarter of eligible households using the millions of dollars allocated for the state.
Gov. Phil Murphy’s office referred questions about why more people haven’t signed up and what the state is doing to raise awareness to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
The agency said it has taken “substantial steps” to promote the program, including posting the program application on its website, sharing details of the program on its social media accounts and holding in-person events.
The BPU did not address why more people were not enrolled in the program.
Under the program, those who sign up at getinternet.gov will get a $30 monthly discount on internet service, and can also get a $100 discount to buy a laptop, desktop or tablet.
To be eligible, households must have income that’s not higher than 200% of the federal poverty level, which in 2023 is $30,000 for a family of four.
Households are also eligible if they receive Medicaid, food stamps, aid through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, free or reduced price school lunches or federal public housing assistance. Those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans’ pension and survivors benefits, Pell Grants or who already receive subsidies for phone or internet service under the Lifeline program are also eligible.
In December 2022 — when the state was still recovering from the effects of a lack of internet access for virtual learning during the coronavirus pandemic — New Jersey learned it would receive more than $6 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act earmarked “to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed internet service throughout the state.”
At the time, Murphy called the money “crucial funding that will dramatically expand access to affordable high-speed internet in our state.”
“Since the outset of my administration, I have been determined to restore and revamp our infrastructure, which includes not just roads and bridges, but the broadband that connects our residents to opportunity and each other,” the governor said, noting it will “make our state fairer and our communities more equitable for generations to come.”
The BPU said it has also received $1.46 million in grants that it said will help increase enrollment in the program.
“Ensuring Internet for All is a key initiative of the Administration and we are working hard to take the substantive steps necessary to ensure this comes to fruition,” the agency said.
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