The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 appropriated $14.2 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides qualifying low-income households discounts on broadband service and connected devices, and expressly authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) outreach for the ACP, including providing grants to outreach partners. The ACP plays an integral role in helping to bridge the digital divide, which is an ongoing priority for Congress, the FCC, and across the federal government.

Recognizing the importance of effective outreach to eligible households from trusted messengers to historically underserved communities, Congress authorized the FCC to establish the ACP Outreach Grant Program. The ACP Outreach Grant Program provides eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with the funding and resources needed to increase awareness of and participation in the ACP among those eligible households most in need of affordable connectivity.

NCOP and TCOP Funding Announcement

On March 10, 2023, the Commission announced target funding allocations for the ACP Outreach Grants—National Competitive Outreach Program (NCOP) and Tribal Competitive Outreach Program (TCOP). As part of this announcement, we will be enlisting 197 partners nationwide to serve as trusted community messengers and providing those partners with the funding and resources needed to implement innovative outreach strategies to reach ACP eligible households nationwide. This new partnership with outreach partners across the country will help raise awareness and enrollment to ensure those that can stand to benefit from the ACP receive the information and assistance needed to enroll. See the NCOP and TCOP Funding Announcement Public Notice for more information.

Program Goal and Objectives

The Goal and Objectives for the ACP Outreach Grant Program are as follows:

• The goal of the ACP Outreach Grant Program is to facilitate the promotion of the ACP and increase awareness of and participation in the ACP among eligible households.
• To support the ACP Outreach Grant Program goal, the FCC identified three objectives:
  • Expand and support diverse and impactful outreach efforts nationwide;
  • Strengthen outreach partners nationwide by empowering them to mobilize people and organizations to help raise awareness about the ACP; and
  • Increase ACP enrollment as a result of ACP Outreach Grant Program funded activities.

Key Milestones

The FCC achieved the following milestones in the development and implementation of the ACP Outreach Grant Program:

• Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Release: November 10, 2022
• Application Submission Deadline: January 9, 2023
• Funding Announcement Date: March 10, 2023
• Funding Announcement Date: March 15, 2023

Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program – Pilot Program Grants

On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, the FCC announced target funding allocations for 32 applicants selected to receive grant funding through the ACP Pilot Program Grants.

The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau will make a forthcoming announcement in March with the full list of grant-funded and non-grant funded pilot program participants.

The announcement on March 15 included information regarding grants for the two pilot programs:

• Your Home, Your Internet (YHYI): 23 applicants selected to receive grant funding with a combined funding total of $4,995,831
• The ACP Navigators Pilot Program (NPP): 9 applicants selected to receive grant funding with a combined funding total of $2,449,311

The Pilot Programs have a one-year (12 month) duration and performance period. These programs will test the use of navigators with access to the National Verifier to help households enroll and submit ACP applications to help eligible households overcome enrollment barriers. The Your Home, Your Internet Pilot has a particular focus on recipients of federal housing assistance.

• Learn more about ACP Pilot Programs