The collapse of affordable internet will hit indigenous communities the hardest

Tucked beside the St. Lawrence River in northern New York and straddling the US-Canadian border, the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation has nurtured generations of indigenous artisans.

A member of the Akwesasne Mohawk tribe handcrafts traditional beaded accessories that many tribe members wear at special events. Social media has helped the artist gain global recognition, expanding her small business significantly.

The US Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is running out of funds and is expected to end soon. This will financially impact over 23 million low-income households in the US, particularly indigenous users who are eligible for the largest benefits. Many tribal reservations are located in remote areas with costly infrastructure development and low population density, making internet plans unaffordable for tribal households. Proposed legislation aims to renew the program, but its future remains uncertain.

The demise of the ACP will adversely affect nearly 1 in 5 US households, or an estimated 60 million people. Indigenous communities, in particular, will face significant challenges as they heavily rely on internet access for education, remote work, and running small businesses. The program has also contributed to cultural preservation efforts within these communities.

American lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation to renew the program, but the House Speaker’s hesitation to hold a vote on additional funding poses an obstacle. The legislation proposes temporary extension of the ACP by borrowing from the US Treasury and relocating the program to an existing FCC fund that supports internet subsidies for schools, libraries, and low-income households.

The impending end of the ACP has raised concerns among tribal users, who fear losing their internet access. Indigenous households currently enrolled in the program may bear an additional financial burden of up to $900 per year due to the loss of subsidies.

Recreating the ACP at the tribal level is seen as a potential solution, but it would require substantial funds. The end of the program may also erode trust within tribal communities, adding to a history of broken promises from the US government.

As the US government shuts down the program, indigenous artisans like the Akwesasne Mohawk artist express doubts about future efforts to revive the ACP. The program’s closure is another example of the government’s track record of unfulfilled commitments to tribal communities.