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The Affordable Connectivity Program

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There is no doubt that technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. We utilize it for entertainment, transportation, communication, and countless other things. And one of the most transformative innovations that is used all over the world is, of course, the internet. 

Internet service is, without a doubt, a very useful, functional tool to have; however, paying for the connection to be wired into your home can be very expensive. 

Fortunately, there have been efforts to make internet service more affordable and accessible. One of those endeavors is called the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal effort created by Congress to help eligible homes receive a subsidy of up to $30 a month and up to $75 a month for those on qualifying Tribal lands.

The following circumstances are eligible for this program:

  1. Household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
  2. Member of the household received a Federal Pell Grant.
  3. Participates in assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), WIC, Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, and more.
  4. Lives on qualifying Tribal lands and participates in one of these assistance programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and Tribal Head Start.

If any of these circumstances describe you or a member in your household, you can apply for ACP by completing the following two steps:

  1. Submit an application or print a mail-in application at AffordableConnectivity.gov.
  2. Contact your participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill. 

You can find more information about qualifications, applications, and internet service providers that participate in this program by visiting https://www.fcc.gov/acp

The internet is undoubtedly one of the most useful tools for communication. Thankfully, programs like the ACP allow for these tools to reach more communities and connect them with others. If you’re interested in investing in personal internet service but money is running tight, do not hesitate to check out the Affordable Connectivity Program and other federal programs that wish to help you connect with the world.

By Abigail Choe