Who Qualifies for the Affordable Connectivity Program?

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was a federal initiative designed to help eligible low-income households afford broadband internet service. This program aimed to bridge the digital divide, connecting more individuals to essential online resources for work, education, and healthcare. The ACP provided a monthly discount on internet services and a one-time discount on certain connected devices. As of February 7, 2024, the Affordable Connectivity Program stopped accepting new applications. Consumers approved and enrolled with a service provider by that date continued to receive benefits until the program’s end.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Households were eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program based on income or participation in specific government assistance programs. A household qualified if its income was at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, with the exact income threshold varying by household size and location.

Eligibility was also established if at least one member of the household participated in certain federal assistance programs, including:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Lifeline program
• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
• Federal Pell Grant (in the current award year)
• Free and Reduced Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program (including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision)
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (for households on qualifying Tribal lands)
• Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF) (for households on qualifying Tribal lands)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) (for households on qualifying Tribal lands)

Required Documentation for Application

Applicants needed to prepare specific documents to demonstrate their eligibility for the Affordable Connectivity Program. Proof of identity was a standard requirement, typically satisfied by a valid government-issued ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport.

Verification of the applicant’s address was also necessary. Acceptable documents for this purpose included utility bills, lease agreements, or a mortgage statement.

For income-based eligibility, applicants provided documents proving their household income was within the specified limits. This could include prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax returns, current income statements from an employer or recent paycheck stubs, or statements of benefits from Social Security, Veterans Administration, unemployment, or worker’s compensation. For program-based eligibility, official letters or statements from the respective government agencies served as proof of participation. For instance, a SNAP award letter, Medicaid card, SSI award letter, or a letter from a school confirming participation in the free or reduced-price lunch program were all acceptable.

Application Process Steps

The application process for the Affordable Connectivity Program typically involved two main steps. Applicants first submitted an application to the National Verifier, which was administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). This could be done online through the official program website or by mailing in a paper application.

The application form required personal details such as name, address, date of birth, and often the last four digits of a Social Security Number or Tribal ID. If applying based on a qualifying program, details of that program and the participating household member were also provided. The National Verifier then reviewed the application and any submitted documentation to confirm eligibility. If automated checks were insufficient, manual review by a representative could be required, often necessitating the submission of additional documents.

Upon successful verification, the applicant received an Application ID. The final step involved contacting a participating internet service provider (ISP). The applicant provided their Application ID to the chosen provider to enroll in an eligible plan and have the ACP discount applied to their monthly bill.