ACP: What It Is & How It Works
Helping families get connected to broadband during the pandemic.
Video: Chairwoman Rosenworcel | en español | ASL
More Information
Latest News
- 20+ Million Households Enroll in ACP
News Release | Fact Sheet | Infographic | Sample Social Media Posts for Partners | Event: Outreach Partner Call - FCC Acts To Provide Subsidy for Consumers
- Public Notice: New ACP Application Landing Page Announced
- FCC Announces $66 Million in Outreach Grants to Fund Projects to Expand Participation in ACP
- Chairwoman Shares Proposal for 2nd Funding Chance to Promote ACP
- Learn More About the ACP Grant Program
Need Help with the ACP?
- For questions about your eligibility or application status, call the ACP Support Center at (877) 384-2575 or email: ACPSupport@usac.org.
- For issues with your ACP provider, submit a complaint.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.
The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
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
- Your Medicaid eligibility may be up for renewal. Learn more about how to renew.
- 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)
Two Steps to Enroll
- Go to GetInternet.gov to submit an application or print out a mail-in application.
- Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill.
Some providers may have an alternative application that they will ask you to complete.
Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.
How Does the ACP Protect Consumers?
FCC rules protect Affordable Connectivity Program recipients by:
- Empowering consumers to choose the service plan that best meets their needs (including a plan they may already be on);
- 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; and
- Providing a dedicated FCC process for ACP complaints.
Which Internet Service Providers Are Participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program?
Various internet providers are participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Find internet service providers offering the benefit in your state or territory.
Service providers: find more information about how to participate.
Consumer Outreach Toolkit
The toolkit includes downloadable Affordable Connectivity Program social media images, fact sheets, and other outreach content and materials that can be customized for consumer awareness campaigns.
Request a Speaker
FCC consumer experts are available to explain the Affordable Connectivity Program at your event.
Become an Outreach Partner
The FCC is mobilizing people and organizations to help share important consumer information about the new Affordable Connectivity Program. To participate, please fill out and submit the form below:
The FCC is authorized to collect this information pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 155, 303; 47 CFR 0.141. The FCC will use the contact information provided to share outreach information, as well as Emergency Broadband Benefit details and updates. Additional disclosures may be made when necessary and appropriate under 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, including: to comply with federal laws requiring disclosure of the information contained in our records; to comply with requests from Congress; to other federal agencies or to other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear; to facilitate statistical research, audit or investigative matters; and, to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when the FCC suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of information.
For more information, please contact the FCC at ACPinfo@fcc.gov
American Sign Language Videos
Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel talks about how the ACP can help families get connected to internet service (video is ASL interpreted).
Watch this ASL video to learn about the Affordable Connectivity Program, who is eligible and how to apply.
News Media Contacts & Resources
Paloma Isabel Perez
FCC Press Secretary
paloma.perez@fcc.gov
Anne Veigle
Deputy Director, Office of Media Relations
anne.veigle@fcc.gov
Office of Media Relations
mediarelations@fcc.gov
202-418-0500
Additional Resources
- 20+ Million Households Enroll in ACP | Fact Sheet (08/14/23)
- FCC Acts to Provide Subsidy for Consumers in Certain High-Cost Areas | Report and Order (08/04/23)
- Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau Announces New Affordable Connectivity Program Application Landing Page at Getinternet.Gov (05/04/23)
- Public Notice: FCC Announces ACP Pilot Program Grants Target Funding | News Release: FCC Targets Over $7M Toward Affordable Connectivity Program Awareness (03/15/23)
- Report and Order: FCC Adopts Second Funding Opportunity for ACP Outreach Grant Program (03/15/23)
- Public Notice: NCOP and TCOP Funding Announcement | News Release: FCC Announces $66 Million in Outreach Grants to Fund Projects to Expand Participation in ACP (03/10/23)
- Chairwoman Rosenworcel Shares Targeted Proposal to Offer Another Chance for Funding to Promote ACP (03/10/23)
- FCC Provides Additional Information Concerning ACP Pilot Programs (10/11/22)
- FCC Creates 'Your Home, Your Internet' Pilot Program (08/05/22)
- FCC Establishes Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program (08/05/22)
- WCB seeks comment on petitions filed by USTELECOM - The Broadband Association and Verizon (3/3/22)
- FCC Hosts Virtual Event Tour to Promote ACP Enrollment (3/3/22)
- Over 10 Million Households Enrolled in Affordable Connectivity Program (2/14/22)
- FCC Releases Rules To Implement Affordable Connectivity Program | Download Report and Order PDF (1/21/22)
- FCC Adopts Rules To Implement Affordable Connectivity Program (1/14/22)
- Chairwoman Rosenworcel Debuts Draft Rules for Affordable Connectivity Program (1/7/22)
- FCC Announces Affordable Connectivity Program (12/31/21)
- FCC Provides Additional Guidance on Affordable Connectivity Program (12/30/21)
- WCB Issues Further Guidance for Affordable Connectivity Program (12/8/21)
- WCB Issues Guidance for Transition to Affordable Connectivity Program (11/26/21)
- FCC Seeks Comment on the New Affordable Connectivity Program (11/18/21)