Get discounted internet with the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. This program has replaced the FCC’s previous Emergency Broadband Benefit program. Most Emergency Broadband Benefit households will not have to take any action to continue receiving the new $30 monthly benefit after March 1, 2022. If your out-of-pocket costs will increase as a result of the reduced monthly benefit amount, your service provider will contact you to let you know if you need to take any additional steps in order to continue to receive an Affordable Connectivity Program benefit.

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides:

  • Up to $30/month discount for broadband service;
  • Up to $75/month discount for qualifying households on qualifying Tribal lands; and
  • A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if the household contributes more than $10 but less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

Who Is Eligible?

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

  • Has an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines; or
  • Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
  • Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
  • Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program.

How Can I sign up?

  1. Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application.
  2. Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill.

Some providers may have an alternative application that they will ask you to complete.

Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.

Various internet providers, including those offering landline and wireless internet service, are participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Find internet service providers offering the benefit in your state or territory.

How long will the program last?

The ACP is a new long-term, $14 billion program, which will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program.

I am already enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit. What is going to Change?

  • The maximum monthly benefit will change from $50 per month to $30 per month for households not located on qualifying Tribal lands. The monthly benefit will remain at $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
  • Households have new ways to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, such as receiving WIC benefits or having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
  • Households that qualified for the Emergency Broadband Benefit due to a substantial loss of income as a result of job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020, or by meeting the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s COVID-19 program, will need to requalify for the Affordable Connectivity Program. You will be contacted by the program administrator (USAC) or your provider if you need to requalify.
  • Households enrolled in the EBB as of 12/31/21 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit during a 60-day transition period to the ACP.

Where can I find more information?

Additional information is available at the FCC’s ACP website: https://www.fcc.gov/acp

ACP FAQ: https://www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program-consumer-faq

If you need to talk to someone about your eligibility or application status, call the ACP Support Center at (877) 384-2575.

Para presentar una queja en español, llamar al: 888-CALL-FCC (888-225-5322)

To file an informal consumer complaint against your provider involving the ACP, click here.