A National Discount on Internet Service Is Gone

Editor's Note: This story comes from CableTV.com.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has been a popular way to lower internet costs for families in need. The federal program, launched in 2021, provided a $30 monthly internet discount (or $75 on tribal lands) for qualifying households on public assistance.

But the ACP has run out of funding due to congressional budget delays.

Did your family rely on the ACP for internet service? Are you shopping around for affordable internet plans? Here’s what you need to know about the end of the ACP.

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?

The ACP is a federal subsidized internet program that was launched in 2021. The program offered a $30 monthly internet discount (or $75 on tribal lands) on internet plans with speeds up to 100Mbps.

Households could enroll in the ACP if they participated in assistance programs like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Veterans Pension.

More than 23 million households nationwide enrolled in the ACP.

Why is the ACP ending?

Congress allotted $14.2 billion to fund the ACP when it launched the program in 2021. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) projected the program to run out of funding by April 2024.

Industry analysts say it’s increasing unlikely that Congress will be able to renew the ACP amid larger federal budget fights.

Could the ACP come back?

If Congress simply renews funding for the ACP, the program will be back. Last October, the White House called on Congress to give the ACP a $6 billion funding extension through the end of 2024.

The ACP also has a rare level of bipartisan support among voters and Congress. A March 2023 poll from the Digital Progress Institute, a tech policy think tank, found that a majority of Democrats and Republicans were in favor of the ACP.

Last January, a bipartisan group of senators and representatives introduced a $7 billion funding bill to keep the ACP running. However, the bill has yet to gain traction in Congress, and the ACP was left out of Congress’s 2024 budget planning.

Where else can I get low-income internet discounts?

Check out our low-income internet and student internet discount guides for the best ways to keep your internet subsidy. Here are some tips to start your savings search:

• Do you have cellphone service? Providers like T-Mobile, Verizon, and Spectrum offer discounted internet rates if you already have a qualifying cellphone plan.
• Get Lifeline. The FCC’s Lifeline program offers a smaller $9.25 monthly internet discount with similar eligibility requirements as the ACP.
• Check your ISP’s alternative plans. Many internet service providers (ISPs) have subsidized internet programs like Xfinity Essentials and Spectrum Internet Assist that offer low monthly rates. Sometimes, providers may also offer prepaid internet plans with no price increase or contract requirements. In other cases, ISPs like AT&T are maintaining their $30 ACP internet plans but won’t offer a partial subsidy.