A Program for More Affordable Internet

Brian Morvant on July 11, 2022

tags: Financial, Legal & Financial Issues

The internet was once considered a luxury when it debuted decades ago but has now become a necessity. We are required to use the internet for most job search and application processes. Telehealth has helped streamline doctor appointments that don’t need to be in person. Support groups are available from the comfort of your home. And remote work opportunities have increased significantly, to say the least. But the price of internet (on average $60+ a month) remains unaffordable for many people, and a challenging bill to manage amidst all the other costs of treatment. Thankfully, The White House and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have recently expanded an initiative called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) which is designed to decrease the cost of internet for those who qualify.

Full details can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/getinternet.

While the program’s instructions, terms and conditions may appear confusing at first, I will outline a general overview of the eligibility requirements and benefits in the hopes of making it as clear as possible.

Eligibility

You may be qualified for the program if:

  • Your household’s income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line
  • You or someone in your household receives financial assistance from the government (such as SNAP, Medicaid or SSI)
  • You live on Tribal lands.

For further details on your eligibility, click here or call 877-384-2575.

Benefits

It is important to note that that there are two main components to the program.

  • If you are eligible, you can receive up to $30/month discount on your internet service (or $75/month if you live on qualifying Tribal lands) as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet or desktop computer.
  • Additionally, ACP-eligible households may, depending on availability in your area, be able to take advantage of new reduced-cost plans from 20 internet providers. Each provider offers a different plan, some as low as $30/month or even free.  

The participating providers, as of July 2022, are listed below with links to full details on their programs. We recommend reviewing the ones who service your area to see who offers the best deal.

If you qualify and successfully signup for this program, please feel free to e-mail me at bmorvant@cew.org. We’d love to know more about the process as we know many members of our community may benefit.

And if you are interested in being notified about future offerings of our Technology Assistance Program, which offers a free laptop to cancer patients and survivors, please fill out our signup form at this link.