In an article published on September 14 in Law360, Nelson Mullins partner John Heitmann spoke about the challenges involved with securing additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The $14.2 billion program is projected to run out of funds, less than two years after it replaced a similar program started in response to the COVID-19 crisis which laid bare the economic and societal costs of low-income Americans not being able to get and stay connected to the internet.

"It's going to be a solution that requires input and agreement from a wide variety of stakeholders," Heitmann said. "Right now, we face a funding cliff and we're hoping that in one of the appropriations bills that are working their way through over the next couple of months, in the final quarter of the fiscal year, that we find some money for ACP."

Heitmann is a leading advocate for mobile wireless service providers participating in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) administered Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs. He also counsels international and domestic entities ranging from start-ups to industry giants on regulatory strategy involving new business models and product offerings, policy, and compliance at the federal and state levels.

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