Governor Carney Launches Statewide Initiative to Increase Affordable Connectivity Program Adoption

A Coalition of Cities, Local Leaders, and Community Partners Will Increase Awareness of Federal Program That Provides $30 per Month Towards High-Speed Home Internet

DOVER, Del. – On Monday, Governor John Carney and municipal leaders launched a statewide initiative to increase awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal benefit to help lower-income families pay for high-speed internet. The statewide initiative will kick off with concerted outreach campaigns planned by local leaders in Dover, Georgetown, Milford, Seaford, and Wilmington over the next month, with other cities and towns also pledging to spread awareness.

The ACP is a federal broadband benefit funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in November 2021 and championed by President Joe Biden, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. The ACP provides eligible households with a monthly discount of up to $30 on their internet bill and a one-time $100 discount toward a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. More than 140,000 Delaware households are estimated to be eligible for the ACP, and about 32,000 have enrolled so far. In partnership with EducationSuperHighway, a national non-profit with a mission to close the broadband affordability gap, the Delaware initiative will build a coalition of local stakeholders and trusted institutions to overcome awareness, trust, and enrollment barriers that prevent households in under-resourced communities from enrolling.

ACP-eligible households include families with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and those who qualify for SNAP, Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch, WIC, and other government-funded programs. The new initiative will leverage state and city channels to directly promote the ACP to households in these programs and unite local governments, community-based organizations, and trusted institutions to reach unconnected households.

Combined with commitments by internet service providers to deliver high-speed internet plans for no more than $30 per month, qualifying households may receive high-speed internet at no cost when they sign-up for the ACP.

“Stable, high-speed internet connection is critical for all Delaware families, students, and businesses. The Affordable Connectivity Program will help ensure everyone has internet access for school, work, health care, and more,” said Governor Carney. “I want to thank all of our partners for working together to boost enrollment in this program, especially Mayor Christiansen, Mayor West, Mayor Campbell, Mayor Genshaw, and Mayor Purzycki.”

“We were proud to help craft and vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made historic investments in our nation’s infrastructure needs – from roads and transit to broadband and water,” said U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. “We applaud Governor Carney’s leadership in prioritizing unserved and underserved communities and making sure all corners of Delaware can get connected to high speed internet through this robust broadband benefit.”

EducationSuperHighway will support statewide awareness efforts by training community leaders and partner organizations and providing outreach materials and tools to help households enroll. The non-profit recently launched GetACP.org, a virtual mobile assistant that simplifies the ACP enrollment process by providing real-time support to help eligible households determine the easiest way to qualify. The mobile website is available in four languages and helps applicants overcome critical barriers in the enrollment process by helping them identify the documents needed when applying and find “free with ACP” broadband plans available at their address.

“Broadband is one of the most transformative technologies of our generation, but too many people are left behind because they don’t have reliable, affordable access to the internet,” said Evan Marwell, CEO of EducationSuperHighway. “We applaud Governor Carney’s bold leadership and are ready to work with the mayors and community leaders of Dover, Georgetown, Milford, Seaford, and Wilmington to remove the barriers that keep households in the nation’s most under-resourced communities offline.”

The initiative to address internet affordability with ACP is part of an overall strategy in Delaware to connect currently unserved homes to high-speed fiber broadband, as well as to work toward “digital equity” by providing connections, devices, and skills in underserved communities – all efforts funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Learn more at https://broadband.delaware.gov/.

Cities and towns participating in the Delaware ACP outreach initiative as of March 21 are:

  • Arden
  • Bethel
  • Bowers Beach
  • Cheswold
  • Clayton
  • Delaware City
  • Dover
  • Georgetown
  • Kenton
  • Milford
  • Newark
  • Seaford
  • Smyrna
  • Townsend
  • Wilmington

 

Visit Governor Carney’s Flickr to view photos from the event.


Legislation Introduced to Provide Middle Class Tax Relief for Working Delawareans

House Bill 89 to increase standard deduction and refundable Earned Income Tax Credit

 

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Monday announced that House Bill 89, sponsored by Representative Paul Baumbach and Senate Pro Tem Dave Sokola, was introduced in the House of Representatives. House Bill 89 increases the standard deduction for personal income taxes by 75 percent in Tax Year 2024, and increases the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 7.5 percent of the federal credit for Tax Year 2023. The legislation also adjusts the income thresholds for personal income tax to adjust for these increases. Governor Carney announced this tax relief package his Fiscal Year 2024 recommended budget earlier this year.

 

“Increasing the standard deduction as well as the Earned Income Tax Credit will help thousands of working families in Delaware lift take-home pay — and help pay for child care, education, medical bills, and other expenses that we know can grow each year,” said Governor Carney. “This legislation will help working Delaware families, and provide a real benefit for the middle class. We are pleased to partner with Representative Baumbach and Senator Sokola on this legislation, and we hope that all members of the General Assembly will join us in making this a priority.”

 

Under House Bill 89, the Standard Deduction would increase by 75 percent to $5,700 for an individual ($11,400 for a couple), effective Tax Year 2024. Additionally, the 7.5 percent increase to the EITC would enable nearly 20,000 tax filers to have net liability reduced to $0, or receive EITC refunds.

 

“I was very excited when Governor Carney announced these two tax provisions in his 2024 budget. Taken together, these changes will put more money in the pockets of working Delawareans at a time they most need this assistance,” said Representative Paul Baumbach, the lead sponsor of House Bill 89. “The standard deduction increase is designed to catch up to years of inflation and will provide welcome relief to many middle-income Delaware families. It will also simplify the tax reporting for many families. I spent several years leading efforts to introduce a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit program to Delaware. As such, I am especially delighted that the Governor is leading efforts to expand this, directing critical support to Delaware’s working families most in need of support. For these reasons, I am very excited to be joining Senator Sokola and many other caucus leaders in prime-sponsoring this legislation to implement the Governor’s recommended tax changes.”

 

“For nearly as long as he has served in the legislature, Representative Baumbach has been a leading proponent of expanding the EITC for Delaware’s working families,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola. “House Bill 89 builds on our legislation (HB 16) from the last General Assembly, which is why I am proud to serve alongside him as the Senate prime sponsor of this legislation.”

 

“The middle class is the backbone of our economy. Increasing the standard deduction and EITC is common sense policy. I’m proud to support HB 89, ” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “This legislation would help ease the tax burden on many hard-working families in Delaware. Thank you to Governor Carney, Representative Baumbach, and Senator Sokola for their leadership on this issue. It is an important step in making Delaware an even better place to live and work.”

 

The Delaware Department of Finance expects House Bill 89 to incentivize work and simplify tax preparation for 370,000 tax filers. The Department estimates that almost 50,000 tax filers could switch to standard deduction. More than 80 percent of residents that would benefit from this tax relief package have a Delaware Adjusted Gross Income below $75,000.

 

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit is a tax credit that reduces the amount of federal income tax a person owes, and is refundable if the tax-filer’s credit is larger than what they owe in taxes. EITC is described as the nation’s most effective anti-poverty program for working families. The federal EITC was introduced in 1975 and was designed to offset federal income taxes and social security payroll taxes while rewarding work.


Governor Carney Announces Superior Court Nominations

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced that he will nominate Sean P. Lugg to serve as a Superior Court Judge in New Castle County. If confirmed, Lugg will take the seat formerly held by Superior Court Judge William C. Carpenter, Jr. 

 

“Sean is well respected in and out of the courtroom, and has the experience and judgment necessary to serve on the Superior Court,” said Governor Carney. “I know he will serve Delaware well. I look forward to the Senate considering his nomination.”

 

Lugg has served with the Delaware Department of Justice (DDOJ) since 1996 and currently serves as Chief of Appeals within the Criminal Division. He previously served as State Prosecutor and in that role, was the head of the Criminal Division. Earlier in his career, he served as Delaware’s first Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor. Lugg also has experience in the DDOJ’s Fraud Division and Civil Division. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and a J.D. from the Villanova University School of Law.

 

Governor Carney also nominated Commissioner Janine M. Salomone for reappointment as a Superior Court Commissioner in New Castle County. Governor Carney nominated and the Senate confirmed Commissioner Salomone in January 2019.

 

The Governor’s nominations will be submitted to the Delaware State Senate for consideration.


Governor Carney Orders Lowering of Flags

WILMINGTON, Del.  In recognition and memory of Representative Donna Stone’s service to the State of Delaware, Governor Carney has ordered the Delaware flag at state buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff until sunset on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Governor Carney also released the following statement:

“I was sad to learn of the passing of Representative Donna Stone. I will always remember Representative Stone as a passionate advocate for small businesses, entrepreneurship, and financial services. She was a respectful and dedicated public servant who you could work with to get things done. She was also a fun person to be around with a big smile and a quick wit. She will be sorely missed.”

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DelDOT Pilots Wrong Way Driving Alert System

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has recently installed a wrong way driving detection and alert system on the Exit 95 off-ramp from SR 1 northbound to Bay Road and SR 10 (E Lebanon Road) near the Dover Air Force Base North Gate. The alert system is the first of its kind in Delaware to alert and correct wrong way drivers before they enter the highway.

When a wrong way vehicle is detected, red lights will flash on the Do Not Enter and Wrong Way signs facing the wrong way driver. The flashing lights are intended to alert the driver that they are traveling in the wrong direction and should turn around immediately. The two cameras included within the system will allow DelDOT’s 24/7 Transportation Management Center to dispatch Delaware State Police and post messages on variable message signs to alert motorists on northbound SR 1 to a possible wrong way driver.

In 2022, Delaware experienced a sharp increase in fatal wrong way driving crashes from years prior, with seven fatal crashes claiming 12 lives. As such, DelDOT has been working to implement improvements statewide to deter wrong way entries onto highways, including enhanced signing and pavement markings at freeway entrance ramps to provide ample warning of wrong way travel.

The project at this location is a pilot to test Intelligent Transportation System equipment designed to deter wrong way entries onto highways. DelDOT will monitor this system to determine the number of detected wrong way entry attempts and determine its effectiveness.

“We are working every day to make our roads safer. Every second counts when a vehicle enters a road and travels in the wrong direction and we will look to expand this system to other locations across the state should it prove to be a successful deterrent,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski.

Colonel Melissa Zebley, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police added, “Collisions resulting from wrong-way drivers are often catastrophic and deadly. The Delaware State Police are not strangers to these dangers as our agency has investigated numerous collisions, and tragically lost troopers stemming from wrong-way drivers. I’m thankful for our partnership with DelDOT, as we employ technology to increase highway safety in Delaware.”