fcc.gov – apply for affordable connectivity program

apply for affordable connectivity program how to apply for affordable connectivity program how do i apply for affordable connectivity program

The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program provides subsidies to help individuals and families afford the broadband service necessary for modern life, whether for educational or medical purposes.

Qualified households can save up to $30 per month on internet access, and those living on eligible Tribal territory can save up to $75 per month. Eligible households can save up to $100 on the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from a participating supplier, provided that they donate between $10 and $50 toward the purchase price.

Each household can only receive a reduction on their monthly service fee and one discount on their equipment through the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Who Can Participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program?

In order to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program, a household’s income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or at least one member of the home must meet one of the following requirements:

• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program;
• Participates in one of these assistance programs:
  • Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools.
  • SNAP
  • Medicaid
  • Federal Housing Assistance, including:
    • Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers)
    • Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/Section 202/ Section 811
    • Public Housing
    • Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawaiians
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • WIC
  • Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
  • or Lifeline;
• Participates in one of these assistance programs and lives on Qualifying Tribal lands:
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance 
  • Tribal TANF
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
  • Tribal Head Start (income based)

Apply for affordable connectivity program

Here is the Two Steps to Enroll

1. Go to AffordableConnectivity.gov 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.

Apply Now

Some providers may have an alternative application that they will ask you to complete.

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

How Does the ACP Protect Consumers?

FCC rules protect Affordable Connectivity Program recipients by:

• Empowering consumers to choose the service plan that best meets their needs (including a plan they may already be on);
• Ensuring consumers have access to supported broadband services regardless of their credit status;
• Prohibiting providers from excluding consumers with past due balances or prior debt from enrolling in the program;
• Preventing consumers from being forced into more expensive or lower quality plans in order to receive the ACP;
• Ensuring that consumers are not liable for early termination fees;
• Reducing the potential for bill shock or other financial harms;
• Allowing ACP recipients to switch providers or broadband service offerings; and
• Providing a dedicated FCC process for ACP complaints.