The Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) is expecting the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to lose funding by this spring unless Congress appropriates additional funding. As a result, the FCC is taking steps to wind down the ACP.
What does this mean?
ACP is an FCC benefit program that provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
In 2021, Congress appropriated $14.2 billion to ACP. Now, unless Congress appropriates additional funding, the FCC anticipates funding will run out by spring of 2024.
What does this mean for ACP recipients or those interested in signing up for ACP?
No new ACP enrollments will be accepted after February 7, 2024 at 10:59 PM Central Time.
Eligible households who wish to receive the ACP benefit but have not yet applied for the program should submit a completed ACP application as soon as possible to allow time for processing so that an eligibility determination can be made and the eligible household can sign up with an internet company by February 7, 2024 at 10:59 PM Central Time. During this program wind-down period, households must BOTH submit their application on a timely basis in order to be approved AND if qualified sign up with an ACP-eligible internet company by February 7, 2024 at 10:59 PM Central Time to receive the benefit.
Households that enrolled with an ACP internet company before February 7, 2024 at 10:59 PM Central Time will continue to receive their ACP benefit until ACP funds run out as long as the household remains enrolled and eligible for the benefit. The FCC anticipates households enrolled in the ACP will continue to receive the benefit on their internet service through April 2024. This date is an estimate and may change. When ACP funds run out, households participating in the ACP will no longer receive the ACP discounts.
During the ACP wind-down period, ACP households will receive notices from their internet company about the impact of the end of the benefit on the household’s bill and service. The notices will include:
- That the ACP is ending,
- The impact on their bill,
- The date of the last bill they will receive that includes the ACP benefit, and
- That they may change their service or opt-out of continuing service after the end of the ACP.
ACP households will also receive notices from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the administrator of the ACP.
ACP households may also switch their internet plans without penalty.
For more information, please visit the FCC is Taking Steps to Wind Down the Affordable Connectivity Program article.
