Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act

This bill increases funding for replacing insecure communication networks by raising the expenditure limit from $1.9 billion to $4.98 billion under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act. It significantly reforms the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) by requiring all households to verify eligibility through a centralized National Verifier system, ending free device subsidies, and tightening eligibility rules (e.g., requiring school lunch program participation for household qualification). The bill allocates $6 billion for the ACP in fiscal year 2024, mandates new antifraud controls within 180 days, and requires the FCC to report on program effectiveness within one year. These changes directly affect low-income households receiving broadband subsidies and aim to reduce program fraud while expanding network security funding.