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BEC is working to help build awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a Federal Communications Commission program. The new long-term benefit program will help lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households struggling to afford internet service.
The $14 billion Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households. The benefit also provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider.
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 guidelines;
- Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, federal public housing assistance, SSI, WIC or Lifeline;
- 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;
- 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.
Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment opened on December 31, 2021. Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or by going to ACP Benefit page to submit an online application or print a mail-in application and contacting their preferred participating broadband provider and select a plan. Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at the ACP page, or by calling (877) 384-2575 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET any day of the week.