With funding that provides $30 monthly discounts on high-speed internet set to expire April 30, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown urged Congress to extend the program.

“If Congress doesn’t get its act together and extend it, internet bills will go up by $30 a month for more than 1 million Ohio families,” the senator said Wednesday. “We can’t let that happen. It’s why I’m fighting to protect and extend the Affordable Connectivity Program and prevent high bills for Ohioans.”

Brown, D-Cleveland, is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to extend the program that was created through the federal infrastructure law, approved in 2021.

That law permitted the $30 monthly discounts for those with household incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty rate — about $60,000 annually for a family of four — or those who get certain federal assistance. About 23 million households are enrolled in the program, which costs $42 billion.

President Joe Biden’s administration sent Congress a $6 billion request in October to extend the program through the end of the year.

Brown admitted the bill is “stuck” in the House and the Senate, but he will continue to fight for its passage.

“The fact that so far Congress has been unable to get this done is why people hate Washington,” he said. “I’m not giving up.”

Brown said the internet is crucial to people and the program has “been a lifeline for many Ohioans. Seniors have been able to get home internet for the first time. Families have been able to get high-speed plans so multiple family members can be online at the same time. It matters for health care. It matters for starting a business. It matters for education.”

The Youngstown mayor joined the senator on the call about the program.

“We hear from residents here in Youngstown that this program is crucial,” Brown said. “I hear from students from Choffin, Youngstown State, our senior citizens and working moms with children that need to do their homework because of the internet. This is a lifeline that lowers the monthly cost of internet for folks across Youngstown who have enough other expenses and bills to worry about.”

He added: “It’s unacceptable that some people in Congress can’t get their act together and pass this common-sense bipartisan bill to extend the program that’s not controversial.”

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