WHAT IS IT?
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
The benefit provides:
• Up to $30/month discount for internet service
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
• Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guide lines;
• Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
• Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school break fast 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 broadband provider’s existing low-income program.
TWO STEPS TO ENROLL
- Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application.
- Complete the consent form. Click here for form. The form must be filled out electronically and returned to Chariton Valley to have credits applied to your account. Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.
FAQ
If I qualified for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, is that ending?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit was a temporary emergency program developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress recently replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit program with the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new longer-term program that will continue to help families and households struggling to afford internet service.
Households enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of December 31, 2021 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit until March 1, 2022. Your provider and the program administrator (USAC) will share more information about the program transition and any steps you may need to take to continue receiving discounted service.
What's changing?
- The maximum monthly benefit will change from $50 per month to $30 per month for households not located on qualifying Tribal lands. The monthly benefit will remain at $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
- Households have new ways to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, such as receiving WIC benefits or having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Households that qualified for the Emergency Broadband Benefit due to a substantial loss of income as a result of job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020, or by meeting the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s COVID-19 program, will need to requalify for the Affordable Connectivity Program. You will be contacted by the program administrator (USAC) or your provider if you need to requalify.
When will the monthly benefit reduce?
You will continue to receive your full Emergency Broadband Benefit until March 1, 2022. Households that are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program and not located on qualifying Tribal lands will see their benefit change to a maximum of $30 per month after that date.
How will this impact my monthly internet bill?
If you have any questions regarding your monthly bill, including the amount of your bill, timing of changes to your bill, changes to your service plan, etc., please contact us at 660.95.9000 or the Member Hotline at 660.388.9930.
What if I have more questions?
To learn more about the program and read the full Consumer FAQs, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program-consumer-faq
