A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
Yes, eligible consumers with a past due balance or a balance in collections are eligible for the benefit.
Yes, the benefit is available to eligible new, prior and existing customers of participating providers.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount per household, which is defined as any individual or group of individuals who are living together at the same address and share income and expenses. Learn more and find a household worksheet at acpbenefit.org/do-i-qualify/what-is-a-household/
Lifeline is the FCC's program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. To participate in the Lifeline program, consumers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or participate in certain federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or certain Tribal Programs. Find out if you are eligible by reviewing the information available at lifelinesupport.org (click "Do I Qualify?").
No. You must opt-in with your existing provider or request enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program program with a participating internet provider and chose an eligible service plan. You can choose to receive the benefit from your current Lifeline service provider or another participating provider.
Yes. You can also combine these benefits with other state and local benefits where available. They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and an Affordable Connectivity Program service with the same or different providers. For example, an eligible household could have a Lifeline-supported mobile phone service and a separate home internet service that is supported through the Affordable Connectivity Program.
A household may enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program if its school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision or the household separately applied for and has been approved for benefits in the free and reduced price school lunch program or school breakfast program. If a school is offering lunch or breakfast free to all students regardless of income based on a program other than the Community Eligibility Provision - such as through COVID-19 waivers extending the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) - then the household would not be eligible through the free and reduced price school lunch program or school breakfast program by virtue of an extension of the SSO or SFSP.
Yes. If you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, talk to your property manager/landlord and ask that they work with their internet service provider to learn more about the benefits that might be available to you and other eligible residents.
Check with the provider for more information about whether you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The services and devices will be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. If you have any concerns about whether your internet service and equipment is accessible, contact the FCC's Disability Rights office at 202-418-2517 for a voice phone call, at 844-432-2275 by videophone, or by email at DRO@fcc.gov.
Two-Steps to Enroll
Some providers may have an alternative application they will ask you to complete.
Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.
Some participating providers have received approval from the FCC to use an alternative verification process and will be able to approve and enroll eligible households directly. Contact your preferred provider directly to learn about their application process.
Yes, if you applied online at ACPBenefit.org or by mail and have been approved, you need to contact your preferred service provider and select a service plan in order to begin receiving the monthly discount off your bill. If you want to apply the discount to service with your current internet service provider you will need to contact your provider after your application is approved.
If you submit an application to the Affordable Connectivity Program Support Center by mail, you will receive updates by mail regarding your application status (or by email if you provided an email address on your application) . For example, USAC will contact you if additional information or documents are needed and if your application has been approved. Once you receive notification that you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, you can sign up for service with a participating provider following the instructions provided in the email or letter confirming your approval.
If you are currently enrolled in Lifeline, you generally do not need to apply separately for the Affordable Connectivity Program. You can contact your current Lifeline provider or a different participating Affordable Connectivity Program provider serving your area to choose a service plan. Some participating providers may require that current Lifeline recipients complete an alternative verification process.
"Household" is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address as one economic unit. An "economic unit" is defined as "all adult individuals contributing to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household." The Affordable Connectivity Program support is available to eligible low-income subscribers living in group living facilities. Applicants may be asked to complete a one-per-household worksheet, which asks questions about your household to determine if there is more than one household at your address. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one connected device discount per household. Learn more at ACPBenefit.org/do-i-qualify/what-is-a-household
Consumers will need to provide documentation if their eligibility cannot be confirmed automatically by checking a program eligibility database (SNAP or Medicaid, for example). Documents you can use to prove your eligibility include:
Applicants may also need to provide documentation to confirm their identity or address.
You can learn more about the documentation you may need to provide and how to submit it by visiting: ACPBenefit.org/how-to-apply/show-you-qualify.
There are two different ways to prove your child is approved.
The documentation must include:
Examples of acceptable documentation include a child’s report card or a letter from the school or school district indicating the child’s enrollment. Generic school notices that do not include the benefit qualifying person’s name would not be sufficient to enroll in the program based on the CEP.
You can learn more about the documentation you may need to provide and how to submit it by visiting: ACPBenefit.org/how-to-apply/show-you-qualify.
If you are a person with a disability and need assistance with your Affordable Connectivity Program application, contact the Affordable Connectivity Program Support Center at ACPBenefit.org, via email ACPSupport@usac.org or call 877-384-2575.
If you have a question about whether your Affordable Connectivity Program service and equipment is accessible, contact the FCC's Disability Rights Office at 202-418-2517 for a voice phone call, at 844-432-2275 by videophone, or by email at DRO@fcc.gov.
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a monthly discount for internet service up to $30 per eligible household, or up to $75 per eligible household on Tribal lands. The discount will be applied to your internet service, but the ultimate cost to you will depend on the service plan you select from a participating provider.
You may be able to do so. Ask your provider about the plans they have available as part of the Affordable Connectivity Program program.
No. The provider is only reimbursed for the cost of the plan up to $30 per eligible household, or up to $75 per eligible household on Tribal lands.
Yes. You are responsible for any amount over $30 per month (or over $75 per month on Tribal lands) for internet service under the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The Affordable Connectivity Program can be applied to the cost of a bundle of services that include internet, voice, texting and/or associated equipment. If your bundle also includes a TV service, you will be responsible for that portion of your bill, as well as any services that are above the monthly discount.
How does the $100 device benefit work?
Participating internet service providers can be reimbursed up to $100 if they supply a connected device to a household, provided the household pays more than $10 but less than $50 for the device. In other words, to take advantage of this benefit, it must be done through your participating internet service provider, and you must contribute a portion of the cost. The device benefit is limited to a laptop, a desktop computer, or a tablet. It does not include cell phones, large phones, or “phablets” that can make cellular calls.
If my child and I are part of the same household, can we each get our own connected device through the Affordable Connectivity Program?
No. Each household is limited to a single device discount.
Do individuals have to be Tribal members to qualify for the enhanced Tribal benefit?
No. Anyone living on eligible Tribal lands can receive the enhanced Tribal benefit. They do not need to be a member of a Tribe.
How do I know if my household is eligible for the enhanced Tribal benefit?
You can find out more about which areas are eligible T
You can find out more about which areas are eligible Tribal lands by visiting this site: ACPBenefit.org/do-i-qualify/enhanced-tribal-benefit/.
Can I receive both the enhanced Tribal Lifeline Benefit and the $75 Affordable Connectivity Program each month?
Yes. An eligible household on Tribal lands can receive both the $34.25 Lifeline Tribal benefit and the $75 Affordable Connectivity Program benefit. They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and internet service with the same or different providers as long as the provider is participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program program. For example, an eligible household could have a Lifeline-supported mobile service and a separate home internet service that is supported through the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit was a temporary emergency program developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress recently replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit program with the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new longer-term program that will continue to help families and households struggling to afford internet service.
Households enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of December 31, 2021 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit until March 1, 2022.
Learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program by visiting: fcc.gov/ACP
No, you will not lose service on December 31. Households enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of December 31, 2021 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit until March 1, 2022. Your provider and the program administrator (USAC) will share more information about the program transition and any steps you may need to take to continue receiving discounted service.
You do not need to take any action to continue receiving your monthly discount in January and February. You will continue to receive your current monthly benefit until March 1, 2022.
You will receive additional details about the steps you need to take from the program administrator (USAC) or your internet service provider in January 2022, and will be given at least 30 days to respond. If contacted, you should provide eligibility documentation so you can continue in the ACP once the transition period ends on March 1, 2022. You will continue to receive your full Emergency Broadband Benefit until March 1, 2022.
Yes, if you choose to transfer your Emergency Broadband Benefit discount to another participating internet service provider during the transition period, you can keep your Emergency Broadband Benefit until March 1, 2022.
You will continue to receive your full Emergency Broadband Benefit until March 1, 2022. Households that are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program and not located on qualifying Tribal lands will see their benefit change to a maximum of $30 per month after that date.
For households not located on qualifying Tribal lands, if your monthly service bill is below $30 per month it will still be covered in full by the Affordable Connectivity Program. If your bill totals more than $30 per month you will be responsible for the difference. Contact your provider to find out if they have different plans available that may be covered in full by the new $30 benefit amount.
For households on qualifying Tribal lands, your benefit amount will remain at $75 per month under the Affordable Connectivity Program. Monthly service bills up to $75 will continue to be covered in full by the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit.
If you have any questions regarding your monthly bill, including the amount of your bill, timing of changes to your bill, changes to your service plan, etc., please contact your internet service provider.
If you have additional questions about the transition to the Affordable Connectivity Program, contact ACPSupport@USAC.org or 877-384-2575.