The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet access. It provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households.
You may qualify if an eligible member of your household qualifies for the Lifeline program, is within the 135% of Federal Poverty Level, or meets the qualifications for other government assisted programs.
There are certain steps that must be taken to receive this discount.
Step 1 – Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application.
Step 2 – Contact Green Hills Communications to select an eligible plan and have the discount applied to your bill.
For additional information contact our office or visit: https://www.fcc.gov/acp
This offer may not be combined with any other sale, promotion, discount, coupon and/or offer.
Who is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
- Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
- Participates in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program.
Can I sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program if I am already a customer or if I was a customer in the past?
Yes, the benefit is available to eligible new, prior and existing customers of participating providers.
Can my roommate and I each get a monthly discount?
The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount per household, which is defined as any individual or group of individuals who are living together at the same address and share income and expenses. Learn more and find a household worksheet at acpbenefit.org/do-i-qualify/what-is-a-household/
What is Lifeline and how do I qualify?
Lifeline is the FCC’s program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. To participate in the Lifeline program, consumers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or participate in certain federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or certain Tribal Programs. Find out if you are eligible by reviewing the information available at lifelinesupport.org (click “Do I Qualify?”).
If I already receive Lifeline benefits will I automatically receive the Affordable Connectivity Program?
No. You must opt-in with your existing provider or request enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program program with a participating internet provider and chose an eligible service plan. You can choose to receive the benefit from your current Lifeline service provider or another participating provider.
Can I receive both the Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline benefits at the same time?
Yes. You can also combine these benefits with other state and local benefits where available. They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and an Affordable Connectivity Program service with the same or different providers. For example, an eligible household could have a Lifeline-supported mobile phone service and a separate home internet service that is supported through the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Everyone at my child's school receives breakfast and lunch at no cost. Do we qualify?
A household may enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program if its school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision or the household separately applied for and has been approved for benefits in the free and reduced price school lunch program or school breakfast program. If a school is offering lunch or breakfast free to all students regardless of income based on a program other than the Community Eligibility Provision – such as through COVID-19 waivers extending the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) – then the household would not be eligible through the free and reduced price school lunch program or school breakfast program by virtue of an extension of the SSO or SFSP.
I live in a multi-unit dwelling (for example, an apartment building) and we pay the property manager/landlord a monthly fee for our internet. Can I get the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit?
Yes. If you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, talk to your property manager/landlord and ask that they work with their internet service provider to learn more about the benefits that might be available to you and other eligible residents.
Do I need to contact Green Hills Communications after my application is approved?
Yes, if you applied online at ACPBenefit.org or by mail and have been approved, you need to contact Green Hills Communications and select a service plan in order to begin receiving the monthly discount off your bill.
If I submit an application by mail how will I know if I was approved and when can I contact a provider to start receiving the benefit?
If you submit an application to the Affordable Connectivity Program Support Center by mail, you will receive updates by mail regarding your application status (or by email if you provided an email address on your application) . For example, USAC will contact you if additional information or documents are needed and if your application has been approved. Once you receive notification that you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, then contact Green Hills Communications to have the discount applied to your bill.
How is "household" defined for purposes of the Affordable Connectivity Program?
“Household” is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address as one economic unit. An “economic unit” is defined as “all adult individuals contributing to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household.” The Affordable Connectivity Program support is available to eligible low-income subscribers living in group living facilities. Applicants may be asked to complete a one-per-household worksheet, which asks questions about your household to determine if there is more than one household at your address. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one connected device discount per household. Learn more at ACPBenefit.org/do-i-qualify/what-is-a-household
What documentation do I need to provide when I apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
Consumers will need to provide documentation if their eligibility cannot be confirmed automatically by checking a program eligibility database (SNAP or Medicaid, for example). Documents you can use to prove your eligibility include:
- Benefit award letter
- Approval letter
- Statement of benefits
- Benefit verification letter
- For federal Pell Grants, documents should be from this academic year and can include, for example, screenshots of a StudentAid.gov dashboard that clearly documents the student’s receipt of a Pell Grant during the current award year.
Applicants may also need to provide documentation to confirm their identity or address.
You can learn more about the documentation you may need to provide and how to submit it by visiting: ACPBenefit.org/how-to-apply/show-you-qualify.
How can I prove my child is approved for the free and reduced-price school lunch or school breakfast program?
There are two different ways to prove your child is approved.
- If your child attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), school, when applying online select “Free and Reduced Price School Lunch or Breakfast Program” on the “Confirm You Qualify” page. You can then indicate that your child is enrolled at a CEP school by entering the name of the school and uploading documentation that demonstrates that your child is enrolled at that school.
The documentation must include:
- The student’s (benefit qualifying person’s) name
- Name of the school or of the school district
- A date that coincides with the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year
Examples of acceptable documentation include a child’s report card or a letter from the school or school district indicating the child’s enrollment. Generic school notices that do not include the benefit qualifying person’s name would not be sufficient to enroll in the program based on the CEP.
- Households that have separately applied for and been approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or school breakfast program can also apply online by selecting “Free and Reduced Price School Lunch or Breakfast Program” on the “Confirm You Qualify” page. You will also be required to submit documentation, such as a letter from a school or school district confirming that the household’s child or dependent is approved to receive free and reduced-price school lunch or school breakfast.
You can learn more about the documentation you may need to provide and how to submit it by visiting: ACPBenefit.org/how-to-apply/show-you-qualify.
Who do I contact if I have a disability and need help applying for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
If you are a person with a disability and need assistance with your Affordable Connectivity Program application, contact the Affordable Connectivity Program Support Center at ACPBenefit.org, via email ACPSupport@usac.org or call 877-384-2575.
If you have a question about whether your Affordable Connectivity Program service and equipment is accessible, contact the FCC’s Disability Rights Office at 202-418-2517 for a voice phone call, at 844-432-2275 by videophone, or by email at DRO@fcc.gov.
How much does broadband service cost?
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a monthly discount for internet service up to $30 per eligible household. The discount will be applied to your internet service, but the ultimate cost to you will depend on the service plan you select.
If the plan I pick is more than the monthly discount for internet service, do I pay the extra myself?
Yes, you are responsible for any amount over $30 per month for intenret service under the Affordable Connectivity Program.
I currently subscribe to a bundle of services that includes internet, TV, and phone. Can I apply the Affordable Connectivity Program to my monthly bill?
The Affordable Connectivity Program can be applied to the cost of a bundle of services that include internet, voice, texting and/or associated equipment. If your bundle also includes a TV service, you will be responsible for that portion of your bill, as well as any services that are above the monthly discount.