Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a discount on monthly internet bills for qualifying low-income households.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a discount on monthly internet bills for qualifying low-income households.

  • Up to $30 per month for broadband services purchased by eligible households and up to $75 per month for households located on tribal lands.
  • One-time discount of up to $100 on the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if you contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

Applications are now available. Only one monthly internet service discount is allowed per household.

Affordable Connectivity Program

Which Internet Service Providers are participating?

See ACP participating providers in Idaho.

What happened to the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB)?

If you are currently enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB), you will continue to receive your normal benefit until 3/1/22. At this point, EBB will stop and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will begin.

If you qualified for EBB based on participation in another assistance program like Lifeline, no action should need to be taken to enroll in ACP. Your benefit will automatically switch to ACP. If you qualified for EBB based on loss of income in 2020, you will need to reapply for ACP.

FAQs

You are eligible for the ACP if one member of your household:

  • Has an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines;
  • Participates in certain 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 in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program.

Consumers who are eligible for both the ACP and Lifeline Program can apply for and participate in both programs, up to the full cost of their monthly broadband service.

Click here for more information

Various broadband providers, including those offering landline and wireless broadband, are participating in the ACP.  Depending on where you live, you may have a choice of providers.  Check with the broadband providers in your area to learn about their plans for program participation and eligible service offerings.

Click here to see ACP participating providers in Idaho

Participating broadband service providers can be reimbursed up to $100 if they supply a connected device to a household, as long as the household pays more than $10 but less than $50 for the device. In other words, to take advantage of this benefit, it must be done through your participating broadband provider, and you must contribute a portion of the cost. The device benefit is limited to a laptop, a desktop computer, or a tablet. It does not include cell phones. Each household is limited to a single device.

No, the Affordable Connectivity Program provides a monthly discount on broadband service of up to $30 per eligible household (or up to $75 per eligible household on Tribal lands). The Federal Communications Commission will administer the benefit through the Universal Service Administrative Company or USAC. FCC payments will be direct to the internet service provider (ISP), not the household.

Click here for more information

Apply now by choosing one of the options below:

Online with USAC
Use the online application (available in English and Spanish).

Mail with USAC

Print an application: English  Spanish (Application Instructions)

USAC recommends including a Household Worksheet with your application: English Spanish (Household Worksheet Instructions)

Complete the application and Household Worksheet and send them, along with copies of your proof documentation, to:

ACP Support Center
PO Box 7081
London, KY 40742

Contact Your Broadband Provider
Ask your provider if they participate in the ACP, or use USAC’s online tool to find a participating company near you. Participating companies can help you apply through the National Verifier or through their company’s application process.

Help Spread the Word!

The Affordable Connectivity Program was created by the FCC to help households struggling to pay for internet service. As part of that effort, the FCC is mobilizing people and organizations to help raise awareness about the ACP. Visit the FCC’s ACP Consumer Outreach Toolkit for materials to help raise awareness. All materials are available for public use, and you can download and customize them to meet your needs. Eligible households can enroll in the ACP through an approved provider or by visiting ACPBenefit.org.

Help the ICfL spread the word by posting to your social media. Download your ACP Social Campaign packet here! (zip)

Partners – Learn more about ACP

Want to help your community get signed up for the discount? Use the resources below to learn about the sign-up process and more. Become an Outreach Partner to stay informed of the latest program news.