Newark, N.J.'s affordable connectivity program connects 31,000+ households to high-speed internet, saving residents $1 Million monthly

Invest Newark and Newark Alliance announced that more than 31,000 Newark households now have high-speed Internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), saving Newark families nearly $1 million a month. The ACP provides a $30-a-month discount to eligible households, enabling them to obtain free or discounted Internet service from most home and wireless providers.

Newark has a digital divide caused by a lack of access and adoption of broadband. According to 2021 U.S. Census numbers, nearly one in five Newark households do not have an Internet subscription at home. Additionally, 10 percent of Newark families lack a computer.

“The city of Newark is pursuing a series of initiatives to support broadband access and adoption – enabling residents to work from home, complete schoolwork and online courses, attend telehealth appointments, and more,” said Marcus Randolph, president and CEO Invest Newark. “Promoting the adoption of ACP is the first part of that work.”

About half of Newark’s 110,000 households are eligible for the ACP program. With outreach underway, nearly 30 percent of the city is enrolled, with 10,000 households added in 2023 alone.

“Invest Newark and the Newark Alliance are laser-focused on closing the digital divide in Newark and ensuring that all residents have access to affordable high-speed Internet,” said Aaron Meyerson, Newark’s chief innovation economy officer and director of broadband. “Though the ACP program is the most immediate plan to connect residents, we will be rolling out additional programs soon, including connecting public housing buildings and rolling out free Wi-Fi downtown.”

“There is a huge information gap in Newark; many people here don’t have high-speed Internet access at home because of the cost,” said Andrea McLean, ACP outreach ambassador for Invest Newark. “When I tell people living in homeless shelters and those receiving NJ SNAP benefits that they qualify for free Internet service, they are really excited as it’s a huge opportunity to get connected.”