The new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was created to help low-income households afford broadband service and internet-connected devices. Congress recently created the Affordable Connectivity Program, a long-term, $14 billion program, to replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
The ACP will provide a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
-
Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines;
-
Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
-
Participates in one of several Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard), 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;
-
Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
-
Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program.
Households fully enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of December 31, 2021, will continue to receive their current monthly benefit until March 1, 2022. More information about steps current Emergency Broadband Benefit recipients must take to continue receiving the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit after March 1, 2022, will be available in the coming weeks.
Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment opened on December 31, 2021. Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or by (1) going to ACPBenefit.org to submit an online application or print a mail-in application and (2) contacting their preferred participating broadband provider and selecting a plan. Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at www.fcc.gov/ACP or by calling 877-384-2575 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. any day of the week.