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Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Some participating providers are offering an additional benefit of up to a $100 discount off the purchase of computers or tablets if the consumer pays more than $10 but less than $50 towards the purchase of the device. 

Enrollment in the ACP is open for households with at least one member qualifying under any of the following criteria:

  • An income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines;
  • Participation in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
  • Participation in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
  • Approval for benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
  • Recipient of a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
  • Eligibility for a participating provider's existing low-income program.
 

APPLY FOR THE Affordable Connectivity PROGRAM 

 

Need help with the ACP?

If you are having issues with your provider involving the Affordable Connectivity Program, you may want to file an informal consumer complaint with the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program Consumer Inquiries and Complaint Center. 

Lifeline is the FCC's program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on qualifying monthly telephone service, broadband Internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating wireline or wireless providers. The discount helps ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st century broadband and the access it provides to jobs, healthcare, and educational resources.

Apply for Lifeline

More about the Affordable Connectivity Program

Households fully enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB) as of December 31, 2021 will automatically continue to receive their current monthly benefit of $50 until March 1, 2022.

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. 

Contact your provider If you are concerned about a possible increase in your monthly service bill or are interested in changing to a different service plan.  

On February 14, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published in the Federal Register the Affordable Connectivity Program Report and Order. The rules adopted in the Report and Order are effective March 16, 2022, with the exception of certain provisions, which go into effect April 15, 2022. More information about when specific provisions become effective can be found on the FCC's Public Notice. 

On January 21, 2022, the FCC issued an Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPR) adopting rules for the ACP. The FNPR seeks comment on a pilot program to ensure that households that rely on Federal Public Housing Assistance receive direct outreach about the ACP.  It also seeks comment on establishing a new grant program for ACP outreach partners.

On January 7, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released draft Rules which, if adopted, would finalize rules for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). 

On December 31, 2021 the FCC launched the Affordable Connectivity Program. This longer-term program was created by Congress in the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, and replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.  This investment in broadband affordability will help ensure households can afford the internet connections they need for work, school, health care and more.

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