With the Affordable Connectivity Program, some households might be able to get low cost or free internet service.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a benefit program to help households afford an internet connection. Access to the internet has become critical to our everyday life. In a 2021 report, the United Nations (UN) declared that internet access should be considered a basic human right by 2030. A blog by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says that internet access is a “super determinant” of health. This means that a person’s health is significantly impacted by their access to the internet.
We need the internet not only to get information, but to do school work, take advantage of job training, and receive assistance, benefits, employment, and medical care.
Yet millions of households across the country cannot afford internet service at their homes. This is why the federal government started the Affordable Connectivity Program. If you meet one or more criteria, you might qualify for discounts on your home internet service. If you pair it with the Comcast Internet Essentials package, you could get your internet for free.
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) comes from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). The purpose is to help families get internet access for work, school, healthcare and more. Those who qualify for this program can receive the following benefits:
- Up to a $30/month discount on internet service
- Up to a $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands
- A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)
- A low cost service plan that may be fully covered through the ACP
Are you Eligible for Lower Costs on Your Internet?
To qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, you must meet one or more criteria. If one or more items from the following list applies to you, you probably qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program:
- Your income is at or below the poverty level
- You or your dependent currently get assistance such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), WIC, Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- You received a Federal Pell Grant this year
- You are already participating in an existing low-income internet program
- You live on Tribal lands and receive assistance such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Tribal Head Start
Apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program
See if you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program here: https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/do-i-qualify/
Apply online here: https://nv.fcc.gov/lifeline?awsl=button-from-homepage-apply&id=acp&ln=RW5nbGlzaA%3D%3D
If you need access to a computer with internet to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, visit your nearest library.
Read the NMBLC blog on the International District Library and all the benefits of your free library card: https://nmblc.org/international-district-library-opens-in-albuquerque/
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Shannon Moreau is the Editor of the NMBLC EQ Blog