TruConnect Applauds White House on Steps to Expand High-Speed Internet Access and Affordability

LOS ANGELES, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TruConnect, the nation's fastest-growing Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) plan provider in the U.S. delivering affordable mobile products and services to low-income Americans, applauds the White House for its steps to address the digital divide and reduce high-speed internet costs for millions of Americans through its new getinternet.gov initiative. As a Lifeline provider for more than 10 years, TruConnect also emphasizes the need to ensure wireless broadband is part of the solution.

"These are desperate times for individuals who cannot afford or don't have access to high-speed internet service. It's a necessity for opportunity—be it work, education, health, connection to family and friends—something we have witnessed first-hand with our customers since 2010," commented Doug Lodder, president of TruConnect. "We commend the White House's steps to improve affordable access and increase visibility of the available programs and providers across the county. We believe that these are the first steps of many toward closing the digital divide—our vision for full digital equity is where 100% of Americans are connected through a diverse network of solutions."

Several studies point to the need for multiple network delivery solutions beyond fixed terrestrial. According to the Pew Research Internet Broadband Fact Sheet, 27% of people earning less than $30,000 annually did not have home broadband but relied on smartphones to stay connected. Further, the FCC shows that 99.9% of Americans have some kind of LTE coverage, whereas fixed terrestrial broadband is only deployed to 94% of the country. This gap highlights how the lowest-income Americans, and the 3.7 million people that are housing insecure or those untethered to a permanent address, will still be impacted by the digital divide without a solution that includes LTE delivery.

TruConnect has been on the front lines of digital equity since the inception of the Lifeline program, a discounted phone service for qualifying low-income consumers. As a mission-driven company, it has been solely focused on building solutions designed for its customers most in need, equipping more than 1.5 million Americans since May 2021 with free smartphones and service. Today, it delivers an end-to-end connectivity solution comprising of a device and wireless connectivity, and also provides service through the federal ACP program. Uniquely providing Lifeline and the ACP, TruConnect expands its offerings beyond others in the market to include service, no-contract plans and devices it manufactures itself.

"As we applaud the White House's move with private sector commitments and opening of more competition to better serve consumers, we also encourage the Administration to take the lead with a similar effort surrounding the Lifeline program which has been hamstringed by fragmented deployments and administration among certain 'default' states," continued Lodder. "It's critical that as resources are more challenging to access now than ever, programs such as Lifeline break down those barriers to improve the lives of low-income Americans by connecting them with their loved ones, communities and critical resources."

About TruConnect
TruConnect is the fastest-growing wireless Lifeline provider in the U.S., expanding availability of wireless and internet service plans and free devices through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to all Americans. TruConnect is mission-driven, transforming how people connect to the world and helping more Americans gain access to critical resources while staying connected to family and friends. With no-contract plans for voice, text, and data, and easy-to-use devices like handsets and hotspots, TruConnect has bridged the digital divide and connected millions of Americans who have otherwise been overlooked and underserved by traditional providers.

For more information, please visit www.TruConnect.com.

SOURCE TruConnect