THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households. If a household is eligible, it can receive up to $30 per month discount for broadband service. Only one monthly service discount, and one device discount, is allowed per household. This program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner.
Qualifications
A household qualifies for the Affordable Connectivity Program if:
- it has an income at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines OR any member of the household:
- Qualifies for Lifeline benefits through participation in SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit;
- Experienced a substantial loss of income since Feb. 29, 2020 due to job loss or furlough AND has a total household income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers;
- Received a federal Pell Grant in the current award year;
- Received approval for benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year. Any member of your household can make your household eligible. For example, if your child or dependent participates in the Free and Reduced Price School Lunch Program, your household qualifies for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program, and that provider received FCC approval for its eligibility verification process.
A household is a group of people who live together and share money (even if they are not related to each other). If you live together and share money, you are one household. If you either don’t live together or you don’t share money, you are two or more households. You may have to answer questions about your household when you apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
How to Apply
To apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, please visit the site below.
https://www.checklifeline.org/lifeline/?id=nv_flow&ebbp=true
After you submit an application, USAC will share the results with you. If you apply online, you may receive an immediate approval. If USAC cannot prove your eligibility automatically, we will request additional documentation from you and provide information on how you can submit those documents for review.
Once your application is approved, fill out the ACP webform to the right and provide your application ID, date of birth, last four of your social, and United will enroll you into the program.
For further questions visit, https://www.getemergencybroadband.org/