No. The Affordable Connectivity Program is not still available. The ACP stopped taking new applications after February 7, 2024, and the last monthly discounts were applied on June 1, 2024, when the program’s $14.2 billion appropriation ran out and Congress did not add more funding.1Federal Communications Commission. The FCC Is Taking Steps to Wind Down the Affordable Connectivity Program About 23 million households lost the benefit at shutdown. If you were relying on the ACP’s monthly credit toward internet service, the two federal-adjacent options left are the Lifeline program and reduced-price plans offered directly by major internet providers.
Will ACP Come Back
Several bills were introduced in the 118th Congress to extend ACP funding. None passed.2Congress.gov. The End of the Affordable Connectivity Program No replacement federal broadband subsidy has been enacted as of 2026. A related program from the same 2021 infrastructure law, the Digital Equity Act, had its state grants terminated in May 2025, so the broader pipeline of federal broadband assistance has narrowed rather than grown.
If You Were Enrolled in ACP
A few of the program’s consumer protections outlived the discount. If you signed an internet service contract while receiving ACP, your provider cannot charge you an early termination fee for ending that contract early.3Federal Communications Commission. Affordable Connectivity Program Consumer FAQ Check your current bill carefully. If the amount still assumes an ACP credit that no longer exists, contact your provider and ask to move to a current plan before the balance grows.
Lifeline: The Ongoing Federal Discount
Lifeline is the only federal program still directly reducing a household’s phone or internet bill. It provides $9.25 per month toward broadband or bundled service, or $5.25 per month for voice-only service.4eCFR. 47 CFR Part 54 Subpart E – Universal Service Support for Low-Income Consumers The amount is smaller than the ACP’s $30, but Lifeline is a permanent program funded through the Universal Service Fund, so it does not depend on a fresh congressional appropriation. Some states add their own supplemental discount on top of the federal amount.
Who Qualifies
You can qualify by income or by program participation. Your household income must be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or someone in your household must participate in one of these programs:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household, no matter how many people in the home qualify.4eCFR. 47 CFR Part 54 Subpart E – Universal Service Support for Low-Income Consumers
One important boundary if you came from ACP: the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program qualified households for ACP but do not qualify anyone for Lifeline. If those were your basis for ACP, you will need to meet the income threshold or participate in one of the programs above.5Federal Communications Commission. Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications
Larger Discount on Tribal Lands
Households on federally recognized Tribal lands, Pueblos, or former reservations in Oklahoma receive up to $34.25 per month instead of $9.25.4eCFR. 47 CFR Part 54 Subpart E – Universal Service Support for Low-Income Consumers Tribal residents also qualify through additional programs, including Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and Head Start for income-qualifying households.
How to Apply for Lifeline
Applications use FCC Form 5629, available online at LifelineSupport.org or by mail. You will need your full legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. A Tribal Identification Number can be used in place of a Social Security Number.6Universal Service Administrative Company. Lifeline Program Application Form
The system checks eligibility automatically against federal databases. If it can’t verify you electronically, you’ll be asked for documentation: an official document showing participation in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or another qualifying program, or for income-based applications, recent pay stubs, a federal tax return, or a Social Security benefits statement. Online applications often produce an immediate result. Paper applications go to the Lifeline Support Center at PO Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845, and take several weeks.
Approval alone doesn’t apply the discount. After you’re approved, contact a participating provider and ask them to apply the benefit to your account. Not every internet or phone company participates. The “Companies Near Me” search at cnm.universalservice.org lists participating providers by zip code for home or mobile service.7Universal Service Administrative Company. Companies Near Me The tool doesn’t always show every option, so calling providers directly is worthwhile.
Recertifying Each Year
Lifeline requires annual recertification. If USAC can confirm your eligibility through its databases, no action is needed. If it can’t, you’ll get a notice by email or letter with 60 days to respond. Missing that deadline ends your benefit and can cause your service to be terminated or your bill to jump.8Universal Service Administrative Company. Recertify You can recertify online at getinternet.gov, by mailing Form 5630, or by phone at (855) 359-4299 if no documentation is required. Tribal members can call (800) 234-9473. If you lose the benefit but still qualify, you can reapply from scratch.
Low-Cost Plans From Internet Providers
Several large internet companies run their own reduced-price plans for low-income households. These are separate from any federal program and set their own eligibility rules, usually tied to participation in assistance programs like SNAP or SSI.
- Comcast Internet Essentials: $14.95 per month for speeds up to 75 Mbps. Internet Essentials Plus is $29.95 per month for 100 Mbps.
- AT&T Access: $30 per month for speeds up to 100 Mbps, with potential savings on fiber plans of 300 Mbps or higher.
- Spectrum Internet Assist: $25 per month, with some households qualifying for a $15 per month rate. Eligibility ties to programs like the National School Lunch Program or SSI.
These plans generally don’t require a credit check or a long-term contract, and availability depends on whether the provider serves your address. Some providers will let you combine their low-income plan with the Lifeline discount if you qualify for both, and some won’t. Ask before enrolling.