The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband Internet 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. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount per household.
The Affordable Connectivity Program
Who is Eligible for the Connectivity Program?
A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
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;
Participates in the National 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.
How to Apply
Already a Lifeline Customer?
If you are currently enrolled in the Lifeline program, you do not have to apply again for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). You can apply your Lifeline and ACP to the same or separate services. Contact Valley Telecommunications regarding your options to complete the ACP Opt-In Form.
Two Steps to Enroll:
Go to ACPbenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application.
Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill.
FAQ’s
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband Internet they need for work, school, healthcare and more.
How much is the benefit?
The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.
Can more than one person in a household qualify?
The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount per household.
Who is eligible for the ACP?
A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
- 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;
- Participates in the National 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.
Can I receive both ACP and Lifeline benefits at the same time?
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.
What is Lifeline and how do I qualify?
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?”).
Consumer Compliant Center
If you need to talk to someone about your eligibility or application status, please call the ACP helpline at (877) 384-2575.
If you are having issues with your provider involving the Affordable Connectivity Program, and you want to file an informal consumer complaint with the FCC, go to https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us
Industry Links
FCC Online Public File
