More Than 500,000 In Louisiana Could Soon Be Without Internet

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the world we live in now is almost completely digital.

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Just consider that you are reading this article digitally. Thanks to the magic of the world wide web, the internet.

We shop online, we communicate online, some even monitor the contents of their refrigerator online. The internet has become that important to the fiber of our daily lives.

And now, that internet connectivity could be ending next week, on May 1, for some 548,192 households in Louisiana.

This Loss For Louisianans Won't Happen Because Of Obvious Reasons

No, it's not because some internet provider has pulled the plug on Louisiana, it's because of the current loss of funding for a federal program entitled the "Affordable Connectivity Program", which has provided eligible households a discount of up to $30 per month towards internet service and a one-time discount off the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.

According to the FCC website, the loss of funding for this government program will effect over 23 million eligible households in America with over a half million of those in Louisiana alone.  Congress initially made $14.2 billion for this program and unless renewed, full funding for these recipients will expire on April 30.

Full Discounts Are Likely Gone, But Partial Discounts Could Be Available

The FCC also goes on to say that "partial discounts" for internet services will be available in May for eligible households, but those will be at the discretion of each internet company.

Internet companies will have the option of whether they want to provide a partial ACP discount in May 2024. If an internet company decides to provide a partial discount in May, it will be up to the internet company to decide the amount of the partial discount. The partial discount will only be provided to ACP households that have opted in to continue their internet service even if the ACP ends. Internet companies will notify ACP households if the partial ACP discount may apply to them. ACP households can also contact their internet company to answer questions.

Stay tuned though.  If Congress provides more funding for the ACP, the FCC will share further information on how the ACP will continue at that time.