How important is high-speed internet to you? I’m sure the answer is – extremely important. In fact, for most of us, it’s not just a nice thing to have – it’s a necessity.
Think about it. More and more of us are working from home, using our smartphones for everything, and streaming our favorite shows online. High-speed internet lets you do all these things without any hassle or delay. With that said, getting high-speed internet comes with a price and a pretty costly one at that.
Did you know that you might qualify for getting that high-speed internet at a discounted rate with the Affordable Connectivity Program? Let’s go over what this program does and whether or not you may qualify for these benefits.
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The ACP is a government-sponsored program that provides monthly subsidies of up to $30, and in some cases, up to $75, to help eligible households pay for internet service. The program also offers a one-time discount of up to $100 for purchasing a device from participating providers.
How the Affordable Connectivity Program works
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is the agency that oversees the ACP, there is no minimum speed requirement for the internet service that eligible households can choose under the program.
However, the FCC does encourage participating providers like AT&T and Verizon to offer plans that meet or exceed the FCC’s broadband speed benchmark of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.
The FCC also requires participating providers to offer at least one service plan that has no data caps or usage-based fees.
The program has helped over 20 million American households access the internet since it started two years ago.
How do I know if I qualify?
There are a few different criteria that would make someone eligible to participate in the ACP. If you fall under any of these categories, you can sign up for this program today.
- College students receiving financial aid via Pell grants
- Households with children who get free or low-cost meals
- People who already use a discounted high-speed internet service
- People who use federal assistance programs such as public housing assistance, Medicaid, etc
- Households that receive income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline ($60,000 for a family of four in 2023)
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What if I also need a new device?
Besides just high-speed internet, you may also be eligible to receive money towards a new device if you need one. If your household is eligible, you may receive a $100 credit towards buying a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from certain participating providers with a small copay.
You must contact one of the participating providers about receiving this benefit, and all participating providers can be found here. Keep in mind that the ACP is limited to one device discount per household and one monthly service discount.
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How do I sign up?
The White House has a webpage specifically designed for signing up for ACP. All the instructions for how to sign up are there, along with a list of providers who are participating in the program. To learn more about whether you qualify, visit whitehouse.gov/Internet.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Thanks to American taxpayers and a White House on a spending spree, less fortunate families are getting access to affordable home internet. To take advantage of this government assistance program, find out if you are eligible right now.
Should American taxpayers shell out more to less fortunate families for high-speed internet? Let us know by commenting below.
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