What Is the ACP and How You Can Get Cheap Internet Because Of It

The U.S. federal government recently enacted the Affordable Connectivity Program – commonly referred to as the ACP. The purpose of this nationwide program is to enable larger number of households to be able to obtain and use modern high-speed internet service. The ACP helps accomplish this by making the monthly cost of such service more affordable.

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For many families, the cost of getting high-speed internet is a major barrier to having access. Though broadband internet prices have decreased in recent years, high-speed service still costs an average of $61 per month on a national basis. Vice President Kamala Harris put forth the government’s policy regarding this when she said “In the 21st century, high-speed internet is a necessity, not a luxury”, noting that the ACP will allow one in four American households to obtain a significant and ongoing discount on their monthly internet bill.

About 14.5 million Americans — and 22 percent of those 65 and older — still don’t have access to even minimal high-speed internet of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speed, mostly due to a lack of affordability. It is for this reason that the ACP has its name and is geared to helping those households with lower income levels. Thanks to this government program and the participation of most internet service provider companies, millions of Americans will be able to afford high-speed internet. The details regarding this are outlined below.

ACP

New Program

The prior program which helped people get affordable internet access was called the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. It was a temporary program that was part of the corona stimulus benefits and now has been replaced by the ACP. The new program is supposed to be a permanent one and allows more people to be eligible than the EBB.

High-Speed Internet

Per the government’s standards, high speed internet service provides a minimum of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speed. However, both the government and the internet industry recognize that true high-speed internet offers at least around 100Mbps download speed. It is at this speed that a family of four can all effectively use the internet at the same time and that the household can properly download or stream high quality video content and utilize online communication services, such as Skype.

Qualifying Through Other Benefit Programs

One way to qualify for the ACP is by being an existing recipient of certain other benefit programs, including:

– Medicaid
– Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
– Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
– Federal Public Housing Assistance,
– Free or low-cost school meals
– Student aid in the form of federal Pell grants

Qualifying Because Of Income Level

The other way to qualify for the ACP is by showing that the household does not exceed a maximum income level. That level is set at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline, which equates to the following maximum annual incomes:

– For a household of one: $27,180
– For a household of two: $36,620
– For a household of three: $46,060
– For a household of four: $55,500

How To Apply and Get Cheap Internet

– Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application online. You can also call 877-384-2575 to ask to have a paper application (with a paid return envelope) sent to you.
– Provide documentation proving your eligibility online by uploading copies of them or sending in physical copies via mail.
– Properly completed online applications can be approved within minutes after submission.

Once your application is approved, you can contact a participating internet service provider to enact your discount. The discount will be applied to your bill; you won’t receive any money directly and your discount can’t be worth more than the amount of your monthly bill. If you choose a lower end plan, it may be possible to get your service for free.

True High-Speed Service At Just $30 Per Month

Twenty internet service providers are offering high-speed internet access for no more than $30 a month to all U.S. households that qualify and are approved for the ACP. Among the 20 providers that are offering all ACP-eligible families at least one true high-speed plan for $30 a month or less are huge carriers, including AT&T, Comcast, Cox Communications and Verizon. The service must provide download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps). These 20 providers collectively offer high-speed internet in areas where more than 80 percent of the U.S. population lives.

Government Requirements

“Upselling” and similar tactics are prohibited. Provider companies can’t force customers to take more expensive plans or steer them away from cheaper ones. Requiring extra services or equipment or prohibitive sign-up or installation fees are prohibited.

Full transparency from the provider companies is required, including clear and detailed disclosure of accurate download and upload speeds, all monthly costs including taxes and any equipment fees.

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