Affordable Connectivity Program: What Happened Next

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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended on June 1, 2024. Congress did not approve additional funding, and the Federal Communications Commission had no choice but to shut it down. At its peak, over 23 million American households relied on ACP’s $30/month internet discount to stay connected.

That discount is gone now. No replacement program has taken its place at the federal level. But affordable internet options still exist – from the Lifeline program to ISP-specific low-income plans that cost as little as $9.95 per month.

If you were an ACP subscriber or you are searching for cheap internet right now, this guide covers what happened to the program, what replaced it, and every alternative available in 2025 and beyond.

What Was the Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program was an FCC benefit that helped low-income households pay for internet service. Qualifying households received up to $30 per month off their internet bill. Households on qualifying Tribal lands received up to $75 per month.

ACP also offered a one-time discount of up to $100 toward a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet when purchased through a participating provider. The device discount required a co-payment between $10 and $50.

The program replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), which launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in November 2021, Congress allocated $14.2 billion to create ACP as a longer-term successor to EBB.

USAC (Universal Service Administrative Company) administered the program on behalf of the FCC. More than 1,300 internet service providers participated, including every major national carrier and hundreds of smaller regional ISPs.

Eligibility was based on household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Participation in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Federal Pell Grant, or free and reduced-price school lunch also qualified a household. Veterans Pension and Survivor Benefit recipients qualified too.

At its height, ACP was the largest broadband affordability program in U.S. history. It connected millions of households that had never had home internet or had dropped service because they could not afford it.

Why Did the ACP End

Money ran out. That is the short answer. The $14.2 billion Congress allocated in 2021 was supposed to last several years, but enrollment surged far beyond what anyone projected.

When the program launched, federal estimates anticipated modest adoption. Instead, millions of households signed up quickly. By early 2024, the program was burning through funding at a rate that made its end inevitable without new money from Congress.

The FCC saw this coming. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent multiple letters to Congress requesting additional appropriations. She warned that the program would run out of funds and that millions of families would lose their internet discount.

Lawmakers introduced the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act in both the House and Senate. The bill would have added $7 billion to keep the program running. It had bipartisan support on paper, but it never received a floor vote in either chamber.

ACP benefits began winding down in April 2024. Subscribers received partial benefits that month as the FCC stretched remaining funds. On June 1, 2024, the program officially ended. No more applications were accepted, and the monthly discount stopped entirely.

Some ISPs stepped up during the transition. Several major providers committed to offering their own low-cost plans or extending temporary discounts to former ACP households. But these voluntary commitments varied widely in scope and duration.

What Replaced the Affordable Connectivity Program

Nothing replaced ACP directly. As of mid-2025, no federal legislation has created a successor broadband affordability program of comparable size or scope. The gap left by ACP remains unfilled at the national level.

The closest existing federal program is Lifeline, which predates ACP by decades. Lifeline provides a $9.25 per month discount on phone or internet service for qualifying low-income households. That is significantly less than ACP’s $30 monthly benefit, but it is still available.

Several ISPs created or expanded their own low-income internet programs to absorb former ACP customers. These programs vary by provider and region, but some offer internet service for under $10 per month.

State and local governments have also stepped in with their own broadband assistance efforts. Some states launched new subsidy programs. Others expanded existing digital equity initiatives or directed federal broadband infrastructure dollars toward affordability.

The lack of a direct federal replacement means that former ACP households need to piece together savings from multiple sources. Combining Lifeline with an ISP low-income plan, for example, can bring monthly internet costs down to nearly zero in some cases.

ISP Low-Income Internet Programs After ACP

Major internet providers did not abandon low-income customers when ACP ended. Most already had affordability programs in place, and several expanded them to fill the gap. These programs existed before ACP and continue to operate independently of any government subsidy.

Comcast’s Internet Essentials is one of the oldest and largest ISP affordability programs. It launched in 2011 and has connected over 10 million people. At $9.95 per month for 50 Mbps, it remains one of the cheapest wired internet options in the country.

Cox’s Connect2Compete stands out for offering 100 Mbps at $9.95 per month – a speed that handles video calls, streaming, and homework without trouble. The catch is that eligibility is limited to families with children enrolled in the National School Lunch Program.

Verizon Forward launched specifically to help former ACP subscribers. It provides home internet or mobile service at a reduced rate for households enrolled in SNAP or Medicaid. Pricing and speeds vary depending on the type of service available at your address.

T-Mobile’s Project 10Million targets students rather than households. It provides free mobile hotspots to eligible K-12 students whose families cannot afford home internet. Schools and districts partner with T-Mobile to distribute the devices.

Keep in mind that program names, prices, and eligibility requirements change. ISPs update their offerings regularly. Always check the provider’s website or call their customer service line to confirm current details before applying.

How to Apply for the Lifeline Program

Lifeline is the federal government’s longest-running communications affordability program. It started in 1985 and has been updated several times since. Today, it provides a $9.25 per month discount on either phone or internet service – not both, just one.

Households on qualifying Tribal lands can receive an enhanced Lifeline benefit of up to $34.25 per month. This higher amount reflects the greater connectivity challenges in Tribal communities.

You can apply for Lifeline in three ways. The most straightforward is through the National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org. You can also apply through a participating phone or internet provider, or through a state agency in states that administer their own Lifeline programs.

Eligibility falls into two categories. The first is income-based – your household income must be at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four in 2025, that means a household income of roughly $42,000 or less, though the exact threshold adjusts annually.

The second path is program-based. If anyone in your household participates in any of the following programs, you qualify automatically.

One important rule – only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household, not per person. A household is defined as a group of people who live at the same address and share income and expenses. Roommates who keep separate finances may each qualify.

Once approved, you must recertify your eligibility every year. USAC sends reminders, but if you miss the recertification deadline, your benefit gets canceled. You can recertify through the same National Verifier portal at lifelinesupport.org.

Lifeline can be combined with ISP low-income programs. If you sign up for Comcast Internet Essentials at $9.95 per month and apply your $9.25 Lifeline discount, your monthly internet cost drops to $0.70. That is less than a dollar per month for home internet.

State and Local Internet Assistance Programs

When ACP ended, several state governments moved to fill the gap with their own broadband affordability programs. Coverage and benefits vary significantly from state to state, but the trend is clear – states are taking a more active role in internet affordability.

California runs two notable programs. The California Teleconnect Fund provides discounts of up to 50% on eligible communications services for schools, libraries, hospitals, and community organizations. The California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) provides grants for broadband infrastructure in underserved areas and includes an adoption account that funds digital literacy and affordability efforts.

New York launched the NY Broadband Program to expand internet access across the state, with a focus on rural and underserved communities. The state has also explored direct subsidy programs for low-income households, though details and availability vary by region.

Texas operates through its Broadband Development Office, which was created to coordinate broadband expansion statewide. The office administers federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funds and works with ISPs to bring affordable options to unserved areas.

Many cities and counties have taken matters into their own hands. Municipal broadband networks exist in communities across the country – from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Wilson, North Carolina to Fort Collins, Colorado. These publicly owned networks often offer lower prices than private ISPs.

Public libraries remain an underused resource for free internet access. Nearly every public library in the country offers free Wi-Fi. Many also run hotspot lending programs where you can check out a mobile hotspot device just like a book, taking home internet access for days or weeks at a time.

To find programs in your state, contact your state’s broadband office directly. The FCC maintains a list of broadband funding programs organized by state at fcc.gov. Your local United Way (dial 211) can also connect you with internet assistance programs in your area.

How to Get Free or Cheap Internet Without ACP

ACP is gone, but affordable internet is not impossible to find. It just takes more effort now. Here are the most practical ways to get connected without spending $50 or more per month.

Public library Wi-Fi is completely free and available in virtually every community in the United States. Most libraries offer speeds fast enough for video calls and streaming. Many have extended their Wi-Fi coverage to parking lots and outdoor areas so you can connect even when the building is closed. And as mentioned above, hotspot lending programs let you borrow internet access to use at home.

The Lifeline program’s $9.25 monthly discount is available to anyone who meets the income or program-based eligibility requirements. Apply at lifelinesupport.org. Stack this discount on top of an ISP low-income plan for the biggest savings.

ISP low-income plans from Comcast, Cox, Spectrum, Verizon, and AT&T range from $9.95 to $20 per month. These are real broadband connections with speeds adequate for most household needs. Check each provider’s website to see if their low-income plan is available at your address.

Calling your current ISP’s retention department is another strategy that works more often than people realize. When you call and say you are thinking about canceling because the price is too high, the retention team has authority to offer discounts that are not advertised. Mention a competitor’s pricing. Ask about promotional rates. Many customers save $10 to $30 per month simply by making this call.

Community Wi-Fi is expanding in many cities. Parks, community centers, downtown areas, and public transit systems increasingly offer free public Wi-Fi. These networks are not a full substitute for home internet, but they can supplement a low-cost plan or serve as a primary connection for lighter internet users.

Prepaid mobile hotspot plans from carriers like Mint Mobile, Visible, and US Mobile start at $15 to $25 per month. These plans use cellular networks to deliver internet access through your phone’s hotspot feature or a dedicated hotspot device. Data caps apply, so this works best for email, web browsing, and light streaming rather than heavy downloads.

Do not overlook new customer promotions. ISPs routinely offer deeply discounted rates for the first 12 to 24 months of service. Even if you are already a customer, you may qualify for a promotional rate by calling and asking. Some ISPs will match new customer pricing to prevent you from switching to a competitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Affordable Connectivity Program still available?

No. The Affordable Connectivity Program ended on June 1, 2024, after its $14.2 billion in federal funding was fully exhausted. The FCC is no longer accepting applications, and the monthly discount is no longer being applied to subscriber accounts. The program’s website at getinternet.gov still exists but states that the program has concluded.

What happens to my internet if I was on ACP?

If you were receiving the ACP discount, your internet bill increased by $30 per month (or $75 on Tribal lands) starting June 1, 2024. Your internet service itself was not disconnected – only the discount was removed. Many ISPs notified former ACP subscribers about their own low-income programs as alternatives. Contact your internet provider to ask about discounted plans you may qualify for now.

Can I still apply for Lifeline?

Yes. The Lifeline program is separate from ACP and remains fully operational. Lifeline provides a $9.25 per month discount on phone or internet service. You can apply online at lifelinesupport.org, through a participating service provider, or through your state’s Lifeline administrator. Eligibility is based on income (at or below 135% of federal poverty guidelines) or participation in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI.

Do I qualify for ISP low-income internet programs?

Eligibility varies by provider, but most ISP low-income programs use similar criteria. Participation in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, the National School Lunch Program, or Federal Public Housing Assistance typically qualifies you. Some programs are limited to households with school-age children. Income-based eligibility is also common. Visit your ISP’s website and search for their affordability or low-income program to check specific requirements.

Will the ACP come back?

As of mid-2025, there is no active legislation to restart the ACP or create a direct replacement. Several bills have been introduced in Congress to fund a new broadband affordability program, but none have advanced to a vote. Advocacy groups and some members of Congress continue to push for renewed funding. Whether a successor program materializes depends on future Congressional action and appropriations.

How do I find affordable internet in my area?

Start by checking which ISPs serve your address and whether they offer low-income plans. Visit lifelinesupport.org to see if you qualify for the Lifeline discount. Contact your local public library about free Wi-Fi and hotspot lending programs. Call 211 (United Way) to ask about internet assistance programs in your community. Your state’s broadband office may also maintain a list of local resources. The FCC’s broadband map at broadbandmap.fcc.gov shows which providers serve your address.

See also: Verizon Fios Availability, Xfinity Business Internet, Best 5G Network, What Is 5G UW, What Causes Wi-Fi Interference