What Is the ACP Program and Why Did It End?

The ACP program, formally the Affordable Connectivity Program, was a federal broadband subsidy run by the Federal Communications Commission that gave eligible low-income households up to $30 off their monthly internet bill, or up to $75 on qualifying Tribal lands. It ended on June 1, 2024, after funding ran out, and Congress has not enacted a replacement as of 2026.¹²

What the ACP Paid For

The discount was applied directly to a subscriber’s internet bill by a participating provider. For most households the credit was up to $30 per month, which covered the full cost of many basic plans. Households on qualifying Tribal lands received up to $75 per month.¹

The program also offered a one-time discount of up to $100 toward a laptop, desktop, or tablet purchased through a participating provider, with the buyer paying a copay of more than $10 but less than $50. Only one ACP benefit was allowed per household.¹

Who Was Eligible

A household qualified if its income was at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Participation in certain federal assistance programs also qualified a household automatically, including SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit, and Tribal-specific programs such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.³

Education-based pathways also counted: a household qualified if any member received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year, or if a child took part in the free and reduced-price school lunch or breakfast programs, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision. A household also qualified if a member already met the criteria for a participating provider’s own existing low-income internet program.⁴³

Why the Program Ended

Congress funded the ACP with roughly $14.2 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. With more than 23 million households enrolled at peak, the money ran out.²

The wind-down followed a set timeline. The FCC stopped accepting new applications on February 8, 2024. Enrolled households continued receiving the full discount through April 2024. In May 2024, providers who opted in could pass through a reduced partial benefit, capped at $14 for non-Tribal households and $35 for Tribal households. The program ended entirely on June 1, 2024.⁵⁶

Is There a Replacement Coming

Not as of 2026. Several proposals to fund a successor have been introduced in Congress, but none have passed both chambers. Without a new appropriation, the FCC cannot restart the program on its own. The FCC’s ACP page currently states that the program has “ended for now.”¹

The National Verifier system, provider enrollment framework, and FCC oversight mechanisms all remain in place. The missing piece is funding.

What You Can Use Instead

Lifeline

The closest existing federal program is Lifeline, which has operated since the mid-1980s. It provides a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on phone or internet service, or up to $34.25 for households on qualifying Tribal lands. The credit is smaller than the ACP’s, but Lifeline is permanently funded through the Universal Service Fund.⁷

Lifeline’s income cutoff is tighter: 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, compared with 200% under the ACP. You also qualify by participating in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension Benefits, or certain Tribal assistance programs.⁷

You can apply through the National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org, by mail, or through a participating provider. If you’re already enrolled in a qualifying program, approval is often nearly instant. If you’re proving income instead, you’ll submit documents like a tax return, three consecutive months of pay stubs, or a benefits statement dated within the last 12 months. For help, call 1-800-234-9473.⁷

Provider Low-Cost Plans

Several major providers run their own low-income plans that operated alongside the ACP and continue independently. Eligibility rules and pricing vary by company.

Comcast’s Internet Essentials starts at $14.95 per month for qualifying households.⁸ Spectrum Internet Assist runs $15 to $25 per month for customers who receive benefits from programs like the National School Lunch Program, the Community Eligibility Provision, or SSI (for those 65 and older).⁹ Other regional and national providers offer comparable plans, generally requiring proof of participation in a government assistance program.

During the 2024 wind-down, fourteen providers committed to offering at least one plan at $30 or less per month with no data caps for ACP-eligible households through the end of that year. Some of those commitments have since expired, so check directly with your provider for current pricing. The Lifeline discount can often be applied on top of a provider’s low-cost plan, which is worth asking about when you sign up.¹⁰

1
Federal Communications Commission. Affordable Connectivity Program
2
Congress.gov. The End of the Affordable Connectivity Program
3
Federal Communications Commission. Affordable Connectivity Program Fact Sheet
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 47 USC 1752 – Benefit for Broadband Service
5
Federal Communications Commission. Affordable Connectivity Program Has Ended Frequently Asked Questions
6
Federal Communications Commission. Public Notice DA-24-342A1
7
Federal Communications Commission. Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications
8
Xfinity. Internet Essentials
9
Spectrum. Spectrum Internet Assist
10
Federal Communications Commission. Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers