---
title: "Affordable Connectivity Program: What Is It and Who Qualifies"
description: "As the digital revolution continues to grow, a new question has started to arise."
category: "How to Manage Your Money"
author: "Field Chari"
date: 2022-07-12
updated: 2026-06-25
url: https://digestyourfinances.com/affordable-connectivity-program/
---

# Affordable Connectivity Program: What Is It and Who Qualifies

As the digital revolution continues to grow, a new question has started to arise.

As the digital revolution continues to grow, a new question has started to arise. Has internet access become a fundamental human right at this point? Just like water, electricity, and a home, the internet has now become essential for everyday living. The internet has touched every aspect of our daily lives. This is where the Affordable Connectivity Program comes in.

> **Update (2026):** The Affordable Connectivity Program has **ended.** Congress didn't renew its funding, so the program stopped accepting new applications in February 2024 and wound down — the last (partial) discount went out around May 2024. If you found this hoping to sign up, you unfortunately can't anymore. The good news: there are still real ways to get cheaper internet, which we cover below. We've kept the explanation of what the ACP was for reference.

In this article, we'll go over what the Affordable Connectivity Program was, who qualified — and most importantly now, **what to do instead** to lower your internet bill.

## What was the affordable connectivity program?

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) **was** a U.S. government program that helped many low-income households by providing discounts. These discounts were up to $30 a month for internet service (and up to $75 a month on qualifying Tribal lands). Qualifying households could also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to put toward a computer or tablet from participating providers. At its peak the ACP helped more than 23 million households — until the funding ran out.

At its height, 20 leading internet providers joined the program, offering high-speed plans for no more than $30 per month. It was run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

## Who qualified for the ACP?

While it was active, you needed to meet at least one of the following requirements:

- Income at or below 200% of the [Federal Poverty Level](https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/federal-poverty-level-fpl/)
- Participates in other Government Assistance Programs, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Lifeline, etc
- Granted the Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
- Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program

Those were the most common requirements — but since the program has ended, none of this is something you can apply for today.

## What to do now that the ACP has ended

You can't apply for the ACP anymore, but you still have real options to lower your internet bill:

- **Lifeline.** The FCC's [Lifeline program](https://www.lifelinesupport.org/) is still running and never went away. It gives eligible low-income households up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet service (up to $34.25 on Tribal lands). The income and program-based qualifications are similar to the ACP's.
- **Low-cost plans from the big providers.** Most major ISPs kept their own discounted plans after the ACP ended. Look up **Xfinity Internet Essentials**, **Spectrum Internet Assist**, **AT&T Access**, **Cox Connect2Compete**, and **Verizon Forward** — many run $10–$30 a month for qualifying households.
- **Help for students, seniors, and veterans.** Nonprofits like [EveryoneOn](https://www.everyoneon.org/) help connect low-income families, students, and seniors to affordable service and devices.
- **Negotiate or switch.** Even if you don't qualify for a program, calling to ask for a retention or loyalty rate, dropping to a slower tier, or switching providers can cut a typical bill meaningfully. Our guide on [lowering your bills](https://digestyourfinances.com/how-to-lower-your-cell-phone-bill/) applies here too.

## Final thoughts

High-speed internet has become essential — for school, job applications, paying bills, and accessing the news. The ACP recognized that, and its end left a real gap for the millions of households that relied on it. The options above won't fully replace a $30 monthly credit, but they can still bring your bill down if money is tight. If you know someone who was counting on the ACP, point them to Lifeline and their provider's low-income plan — they may not realize those still exist.