Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is now the Affordable Connectivity Program

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On Dec. 31, 2021, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB) became the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a new long-term program created by Congress to provide a discount on internet service to those who are income-qualified. This Federal Communications Commission benefit program was established to help ensure that struggling households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.

EBB recipients who were fully enrolled in the program as of Dec. 31, 2021 will automatically continue to receive the discount of up to $50 per month through Feb. 28, 2022, after which the new ACP program will offer discounts of up to $30 per month.

If current EBB participants qualify for the ACP, the EBB discount will transition to an ACP discount on March 1, 2022. Households that are eligible for the ACP will see their benefit change automatically to a maximum of $30 per month after that date.

Households have new ways to qualify. A household is eligible for the ACP if a 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 guidelines; or

  • 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 breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;

  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or

  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program.

For more information or to register for the program, visit fcc.gov/acp.

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