Does your household qualify for cheaper internet access? Check out the criteria for the ACP benefit right here on Newsymom!

From EBB to ACP

Prior to December 31st, qualifying families could utilize the EBB (Emergency Broadband Benefit) program to receive free or reduced-cost internet access through a variety of providers.

Due to the EBB benefit ending on March 1st this year, the FCC launched its successor program called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP, for short) that allows eligible families to maintain internet access in their homes for work, school, health care, and entertainment at a lower cost!

ACP Benefit Information

With this program, qualifying participants could get a discount of up to $30 per month for internet service and up to $75 per month on qualifying tribal lands. Households could also get a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop, or tablet purchase! (If you’re eligible, you would have to contribute more than $10 and less than $50 towards the purchase price of the item.)

Enrollment for this program is open, and one member of your household has to meet any of the following criteria to use this benefit:

• Has an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines;
• Participates in 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;
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price 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; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program.

If you currently use the EBB program, you’ll continue to have the benefit until March 1, 2022. More steps on how to transition to the ACP benefit will be available through the FCC in the coming weeks.

Quick Links:

• ACP Application Link: https://acpbenefit.org/
• FCC’s ACP Page: https://www.fcc.gov/acp
• Application Questions: ACPSupport@usac.org OR call 1-877-384-2575
• Request a Speaker: ACPspeakers@fcc.gov
• ACP Outreach Toolkit: https://www.fcc.gov/acp-consumer-outreach-toolkit
• ACP Fact Sheet: acp-fact-sheet

Melissa Klatt

Reporting