FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program Helps Connect Families and Households Struggling to Afford Internet Service
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. More than 20 million U.S. households have enrolled so far and the program is still open to applications.
The program provides a discount of up to a $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying Tribal lands. The benefit also provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider.
“For a long time, closing the digital divide focused on one part of the equation—the lack of physical infrastructure to get online. But we know that for many people, even when there was technically access, the cost to get online was too high. Thanks to investments from Congress, we have new tools to tackle both challenges, including the Affordable Connectivity Program that is helping struggling families to get or stay online to pay for this modern-day necessity,” said Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
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Their household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, about $60,000 a year for a family of four or $29,000 a year for an individual;
- Anyone in the household, including children or dependents, participates in certain government assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, Federal Housing Assistance or others;
- Anyone in the household participates in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program;
- Anyone in the household received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Anyone in the household already receives a Lifeline benefit; or
- A household may also qualify for the ACP through a participating provider’s existing low-income program
Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application.
You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting GetInternet.gov.
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