Indiana 2024 2024 Regular Session

Indiana House Bill HCR0023 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/05/2024

                    *HC1028*
Introduced Version
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. ____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOL UTION
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging and requesting
the United States Congress to support the extension of funding
for the 2021 Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides
Hoosiers with affordable access to broadband services.
Manning
_______________________, read first time and referred to Committee on
20242284
2024	HC 1028/DI 140 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. ____
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging and requesting
2 the United States Congress to support the extension of funding
3 for the 2021 Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides
4 Hoosiers with affordable access to broadband services.
5 Whereas, In 2018, the Indiana General Assembly created the
6 Next Level Connections program, designed to deploy
7 broadband infrastructure and provide connection and service
8 to unserved Hoosier households, businesses, and community
9 institutions; 
10 Whereas, The General Assembly has appropriated $350
11 million to develop broadband infrastructure across the state; 
12 Whereas, In 2021, the Affordable Connectivity Program
13 (ACP) was created by the United States Congress through the
14 enactment of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
15 Act; 
16 Whereas, Under the ACP, eligible Hoosier households can
17 receive a discount of up to $30 per month on broadband
18 Internet services and up to $75 per month for households on
19 qualifying tribal lands; 
20 Whereas, Eligible Hoosier households may also receive a
21 one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop
22 computer, or tablet from participating providers; 
23 Whereas, More than 415,000 Hoosier households currently
24 participate in the ACP; 
2024	HC 1028/DI 140 2
1 Whereas, The State of Indiana has made significant
2 investments to ensure Hoosiers from every corner of the state
3 have access to broadband Internet services; 
4 Whereas, The ACP provides many Hoosier households with
5 the means to adopt broadband Internet services at an
6 affordable rate; and
7 Whereas, The expiration of the ACP will create significant
8 financial duress and impede the adoption of broadband Internet
9 service among Hoosiers in the state of Indiana: Therefore,
10 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives
11 of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana,
12 the Senate concurring:
13 SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly urges and
14 requests the United States Congress to reauthorize and extend
15 funding for the continuation of the Affordable Connectivity
16 Program.
17 SECTION 2. That the Principal Clerk of the House of
18 Representatives shall transmit a copy of this resolution to each
19 member of the Indiana Congressional delegation.
2024	HC 1028/DI 140