Eligibility: A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program;
- Participates in one of these assistance programs:
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools.
- SNAP
- Medicaid
- Federal Housing Assistance, including:
- Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers)
- Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/Section 202/ Section 811
- Public Housing
- Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawaiians
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- WIC
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- or Lifeline;
- Participates in one of these assistance programs and lives on Qualifying Tribal lands:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal TANF
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal Head Start (income based)
How Does the ACP Safeguard Consumers’ Interests?
- Empowering consumers to choose the service plan that best meets their needs
- Ensuring consumers have access to supported broadband services regardless of their credit status
- Prohibiting providers from excluding consumers with past due balances or prior debt from enrolling in the program
- Preventing consumers from being forced into more expensive or lower quality plans in order to receive the ACP
- Ensuring that consumers are not liable for early termination fees
- Reducing the potential for bill shock or other financial harms
- Allowing ACP recipients to switch providers or broadband service offerings
- Providing a dedicated FCC process for ACP complaints.
