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New FCC program helps income-qualified consumers access internet

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a new benefit program through the Federal Communications Commission that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.

The benefit 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.

Eligible consumers are limited to one monthly service discount per household. A household is eligible if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

  • Has an income that is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines;
  • Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC or Lifeline;
  • Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
  • Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 school year;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program.

Not all broadband providers are participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Find broadband service providers offering the benefit in your state or territory by following this linkService providers can find more information about how to participate here.

Eligible households must apply for the program AND contact a participating provider to select a service plan.

  1. Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application.
  2. Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill. Note: Some providers may have an alternative application that they will ask you to complete.