Navigating the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Access to broadband services is a necessity, especially when it comes to educational and professional reasons. As a response to this need, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially launched the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in accordance with Congressional directives. ACP is a $14.2 billion program set up as the successor to the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which helped almost 9 million people in need get affordable internet access during the pandemic. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a benefit program created in order to ensure that households can afford the broadband connection they need for work, school, communication, healthcare and more.
About the Affordable Connectivity Program
This benefit program offers eligible households a discount of up to $30 monthly for internet services. Households on qualifying tribal lands may receive up to $75 per month. There is also a one-time discount of up to $100 available to purchase a laptop, computer, or tablet from participating providers if they offer $10-$50 toward the purchase price. The ACP is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
If you are interested, you can sign up for the service by contacting a participating provider, enroll via email, fill out your application online at ACPbenefit.org, or sign up via postal mail. If you want to get additional details, you can also call (833) 511-0311.
Who Is Eligible for the ACP?
To receive the discount, your household has to meet at least one of the following criteria:
Have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines;
Participate in existing federal assistance programs;
Participate in Tribal specific programs;
Receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch or breakfast program or the school breakfast program;
Receive a Federal Pell Grant during the current year;
Meet the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income program
How Do I Enroll in ACP?
Visit ACPBenefit.org and submit an application or online or print out a form for a mail-in application.
Contact a participating provider of your choice to select a plan and get the discount applied to your bill. Some providers may ask you to fill in their additional application form.
