About the Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was established by Congress to help lower-income families afford reliable, high-speed internet. It’s part of the Federal Communications Commission’s mission to ensure that all people, regardless of their income, can access the internet services and computer technology that are essential to our modern world.
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.
FAQ
The ACP benefit is paid directly to your internet provider. Similar to a coupon or discount, you will see the benefit as a reduction in the cost of internet service. For example, if you use the ACP to sign up for an internet plan that costs $50 per month, you would only pay $20 out of pocket (plus any additional fees). If the cost of internet service is less than $30, you will not get the difference.
That depends. If you purchase a plan that costs less than $30 (or $75 if you live on tribal lands), then the ACP will cover the full cost and you will not have to pay anything. However, if the plan costs more than $30 (or $75 if you live on tribal lands), then you will have to pay the difference. See the question above for an example of how this works.
Families will need a letter stating that their child participates in a free and reduced-priced lunch program by attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. Letters issued by the school—or for some CEP schools, a student’s report card—may serve as proof of eligibility for ACP.
No. If a household is unable to provide an SSN or feels uncomfortable doing so, they can use a government-issued ID, passport, driver’s license, tribal identification number, or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) documentation.
Yes, eligible consumers with a past-due balance or a balance in collections are eligible for the benefit.
You can apply the discount to any internet service plan a participating provider offers. However, not all providers participate. Find a participating provider in your area.
This benefit cannot be used to pay for a cellphone, but it can be used to pay for the part of a monthly cellphone bill that covers mobile broadband service or a data plan. For assistance with cellphone service, visit the FCC’s Lifeline program.
What if I have questions?
- Get help from a real person in your area
- Read our FAQs
- Contact the ACP Support Center hotline at (877) 384-2575
- Email [email protected]