Disclaimer: As of February 7, 2024, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is no longer accepting enrollments to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) as it winds down the program. Congress has not approved additional funding for the initiative, and the program is expected to run out of funds by the end of April 2024.
The FCC has signaled that it wants the program to continue but is unable to without action from Congress. We will update this article if or when the FCC finds a way to keep the program active or announces an alternative solution for low-income households.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a government-funded initiative to help low-income households access internet service. The ACP provides eligible households (whether that’s a single person or a family) a discount of up to $30 per month on internet service ($75 per month if you live on qualifying Tribal lands). You can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward a laptop, desktop, or tablet computer if you contribute between $10 and $50 toward the purchase.
Although not every internet service provider (ISP) participates in the ACP, most do—particularly the big names. Even better, many participating ISPs have a plan that’s $30 or less—meaning that once you apply the ACP discount, you effectively get your internet service for free.