Deputy HUD secretary makes internet access announcement in Albany

ALBANY — Applying for internet service will be easier for residents in HUD housing under a program announced on Monday in Albany.

U.S. Housing and Urban Department Deputy Secretary Adrienne Todman announced the new streamlined enrollment process for the affordable connectivity program during a stop at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany facility in east Albany.

“I think back to the very first time I logged onto the internet,” Todman said. “Back then, you would get floppy discs in the mail and you could connect to the internet. Back then getting that floppy disc and using it was a luxury.”

These days, the deputy secretary said, the internet is not a luxury but often a necessity for everyday life. The COVID-19 pandemic drove that point home when it was a lifeline that allowed students to attend classes and learn virtually, for individuals working at home when offices were closed and even for medical appointments and scheduling vaccines.

“When I think about then and I think about now, we have come a long way in the need to get quality broadband access,” she said. “(Under the new program, people) will be able to see if they’re eligible and get access.”

Through the program, families receiving rental assistance from HUD can enroll to receive benefits with minimal paperwork. All families receiving rental assistance from HUD are eligible to enroll in the ACP, based on their housing assistance

To apply, visit www.GetInternet.gov or call (877) 384-2575 for a paper application.

The visit to Albany was meant to highlight investments made in rural affordable housing and the Biden administration’s actions to promote broadband connectivity.

The streamlined enrollment process is expected to reduce barriers to enrollment through a data-sharing agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to support access to the affordable connectivity program. Earlier this summer, HUD signed a memorandum of understanding with the FCC to encourage enrollment in the ACP for HUD-assisted families.

“This announcement is going to be a game-changer,” Todman said. “We want to make it as easy as possible to get access. This is what investing in America looks like.”

Albany Housing Authority CEO William Myles said the program is a positive development for residents of authority properties who are receiving HUD assistance.

“It makes it, No. 1, more affordable,” he said. “No. 2, it provides access to all of our residents. Anything we can do to reduce costs increases access.”

During the visit to Albany, Todman also attended a roundtable discussion with Albany Mayor Bo Dorough and other officials.

“It was a robust discussion,” she said. “There was a lot of conversation about access for the programs. Sometimes it is difficult for rural areas to have access to government programs.”

The deputy secretary also made a stop at the residence of an elderly Albany homeowner who had been assisted by the HOME Investment Partnership for home improvements and repairs.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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