In today’s world, access to the internet has become an essential part of daily life. However, many low-income families struggle to afford internet services, making it challenging to participate in online education, access telemedicine services, and apply for jobs. To address this issue, the US government has introduced the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a free internet service available to eligible households.
The ACP is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is designed to help low-income families access high-speed internet at an affordable price. Eligible households can receive a discount of up to $30 per month on their internet bills and a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. This program is intended to help families stay connected with the world around them and access the opportunities that the internet has to offer.
What are qualification Criteria for Affordable Connectivity Program?
To qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit, households must meet one of the following criteria: their income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, they participate in certain federal programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI, or they meet the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income internet program.
Your income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (see chart below)
How to Claim for ACP (Step By Step guide)
To apply for the ACP benefit, households can either send in an application by mail or apply through their existing internet service provider if it participates in the program. Once approved, they can choose an internet plan from one of the participating providers, and their ACP benefit will be applied to that plan.
To claim the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefit, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Determine if you are eligible for the ACP benefit. You can check if you meet the eligibility criteria for ACP by visiting the program website or by calling (877) 384-2575.The Income Chart is given above already.
Step 2: Submit an application to claim your benefit. You can send in an application by mail using the English or Spanish application form and instructions available on the ACP website. Alternatively, you can apply through your existing internet service provider if it participates in the program. Participating companies may ask you to apply through their company’s own application process.
To apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, there are three ways:
- Online: You can login or create a new account to complete the ACP application online. If you apply online, you may be able to receive immediate approval. Online application instructions are also available in 9 other languages. (Read ACP application Instruction)
- Mail: You can print an application in English or Spanish and complete it along with the Household Worksheet. You can send them, along with copies of your proof documentation, to the ACP Support Center at PO Box 7081, London, KY 40742.
- Contact your internet company: You can ask your internet company if they participate in the ACP or use the online tool to find a participating company near you. Participating companies can help you apply through their company’s application process.
After you submit an application, the results will be shared with you. If you apply online, you may receive an immediate approval. If your eligibility cannot be confirmed automatically, additional documentation may be requested from you, and information will be provided on how to submit those documents for review.
Once your application for the ACP benefit is approved, you can choose a company that offers ACP discounts and sign up for service.
Step 3: Contact a participating internet service provider to choose an internet plan. Once your application is approved, contact a participating internet service provider to choose a plan and apply your benefit to that plan. You can talk to a participating company to learn more about what services they have available for ACP recipients and how to sign up.
If you need assistance in completing these steps, you can contact the ACP customer service center at (877) 384-2575 for help.
- If you are already a Lifeline subscriber, you do not need to apply again for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). You can reach out to your internet company directly to enroll in the ACP. Your Lifeline and ACP benefits can be applied to the same or separate services. You can talk to your Lifeline provider about the ACP services they have available, or you can contact another internet company participating in the ACP to apply the benefit to a separate internet service.
- If you are not a Lifeline subscriber but receive service from a participating company that has its own low-income program, you may not need to apply for the ACP benefit. You can contact your internet company directly to see if you can enroll in the program. However, this option is only available if the company obtained approval for its application process from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
There are over 1,300 providers that accept the ACP benefit. Still, to ensure maximum cost savings for families, the Biden-Harris Administration has secured commitments from 20 leading internet providers to offer ACP-eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30 per month. This means that eligible families can receive high-speed internet at no cost by pairing their Affordable Connectivity Program benefit with one of these plans.
The participating providers include Allo Communications, Altice, AT&T, Comcast, Cox Communications, Frontier, Verizon, and more. These providers offer a minimum of 100 Mbps download speed, which is fast enough for a typical family of four to video conference, stream movies or TV, and more.
Here are the 20 service providers participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), along with their website links:
- Allo Communications – https://www.allocommunications.com/
- altaFiber (and Hawaiian Telcom) – https://www.hawaiiantel.com/
- Altice (Optimum and Suddenlink) – https://www.alticeusa.com/
- Astound – https://www.astound.net/
- AT&T – https://www.att.com/
- Breezeline – https://www.breezeline.com/
- Comcast – https://www.xfinity.com/
- Comporium – https://www.comporium.com/
- Cox Communications – https://www.cox.com/
- Frontier – https://frontier.com/
- IdeaTek – https://www.ideatek.com/
- Jackson Energy Authority – https://www.jaxenergy.com/
- MediacomCable – Affordable Connectivity Program – https://www.mediacomcable.com/
- MLGC – https://www.mlconnect.com/
- Spectrum (Charter Communications)* – https://www.spectrum.com/
- Starry – https://starry.com/
- Verizon (Fios only) – https://www.verizon.com/home/fios-fastest-internet/
- Vermont Telephone Company – https://www.vermontel.com/
- Vexus Fiber – https://www.vexusfiber.com/
- Wow! Internet, Cable and TV – https://www.wowway.com/
Please note that the offer by Spectrum is available only to new subscribers.
Moreover, ACP-eligible households can receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from certain participating providers. To get a discounted device, they can contact a participating provider listed on the FCC’s website.
It’s essential to note that eligible households can combine the ACP benefit with other state and local benefits where available and can also receive both the Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline benefits. They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and an Affordable Connectivity Program service with the same or different providers.
What is ACP, what are the benefits under ACP?
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) offers eligible households two main benefits to help make high-speed internet service more affordable:
Monthly Discount: Eligible households can receive a $30 monthly discount off the cost of their internet bill. This discount is applied directly to their internet service bill each month, reducing the amount they need to pay out-of-pocket.
Device Discount: Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from certain participating providers. The device discount is applied as a one-time credit to the cost of the device, reducing the amount the household needs to pay out-of-pocket.
Trible Land discount: Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands: If you live on qualifying Tribal lands, you may be eligible for an additional discount of up to $75/month on your internet service bill.
A low-cost service plan: A low-cost service plan that may be fully covered through the ACP: Some internet service providers may offer a low-cost service plan that is fully covered through the ACP, so you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket for your internet service.
In addition to these two primary benefits, ACP-eligible households can also receive a number of other benefits from participating providers, including:
- No activation fees or equipment rental fees
- No long-term contracts or termination fees
- Free installation
- Access to high-speed internet service with minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload
- Access to additional low-cost or free digital literacy training and support programs
It’s important to note that the exact benefits available to each household may vary depending on the participating provider they choose and the specific plan they select.
Can I get both ACP and lifeline benefit?
Yes, you may be eligible for both the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and Lifeline benefits, depending on your income and participation in certain federal assistance programs.
The Lifeline program provides a discount on phone or internet service for eligible low-income consumers. ACP provides a temporary subsidy to eligible households to help pay for internet service. If you are eligible for both programs, you can receive both benefits to further reduce your monthly internet bill.
It’s important to note that Lifeline and ACP have different eligibility requirements, and the subsidy amount may vary. Therefore, you should check with the service providers or the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to determine your eligibility and the available benefits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ACP is an excellent initiative to provide free internet service to low-income families in the US. The program aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all families have access to high-speed internet. If you meet the eligibility criteria, it’s highly recommended that you apply for this program and take advantage of the benefits it offers. To learn more about the ACP, visit https://acpbenefit.org/.
Source: White House Release