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A benefit program offered by the Federal Communications Commission, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is to help low-income households stay connected.
The ACP provides a discount on internet service or cell phone plans to eligible households to make sure communication services are affordable for everyone. With discounts offered of up to $30 per month or up to $75 per month on qualifying Tribal Lands.
You may have heard of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program (EBB), which helped families in need of internet service during the COVID pandemic.
This came to an end in December 2021 and the Affordable Connectivity Program was brought in as a permanent solution.
What does ACP cover?
ACP helps keep people who need it connected to an affordable broadband service. The FCC provides funding to eligible households which includes a discount of up to $30 a month or up to $75 a month for Tribal lands. Eligible households may also be entitled to a $100 one-off discount on a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet.
There is only one service and device discount per household, but there's another FCC program called Lifeline, which can help eligible low-income households save money on their phone service.
Who does the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit
These days we use the internet for everything including;
School work
Looking for jobs
Home working
Streaming and online gaming
So with the Affordable Connectivity Program, you can get a high-speed internet plan for free (if you get one for the price of your discount) or choose a more expensive plan that will suit your family's needs and pay the remaining balance.
Who is eligible?
The FCC has advised that a household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if either the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or a household member participates in one of the below assistance programs:
Free and reduced-price school lunch programs or the School breakfast program (including at U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision schools
SNAP
Medicaid
Federal Housing Assistance; Housing Choice Voucher Program, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Public Housing, Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
WIC
Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
You could also be entitled if a member of the household has received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year or meets the standards for a participating provider's low-income internet program.
If you live on qualifying Tribal lands participants are eligible if they're part of one of these assistance programs;
If your household has an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or meets one of the other criteria you could be eligible for a discount on your internet.
With a discount of up to $30 (or up to $75 if living on Tribal lands) a month, means your internet bill could be free or at least more affordable.
We rely on the internet for so much these days and the ACP is there is help households get access whether that's for work, school, or just some family time streaming movies.
