The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a lifeline for low-income Americans, has officially ended. The ACP provided monthly internet bill credits, making internet access affordable for nearly 60 million Americans. However, due to a lack of additional funding from Congress, the program concluded on June 1.
The ACP, which was operational for 2.5 years, offered eligible low-income Americans a monthly discount on their internet bills. This discount was up to $30 per month and as much as $75 per month for households on tribal lands. The program also provided a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
The program stopped accepting new applications and enrollments on February 7, 2024. The last fully funded month of the program was April 2024. All ACP households enrolled at the time of the enrollment freeze were able to remain enrolled through the final month of ACP service if they were not required to be de-enrolled under FCC rules.
The end of the ACP has left many Americans without the subsidies that made internet access affordable. In response, President Biden reiterated his calls for Congress to pass legislation extending the ACP. He also announced a series of voluntary commitments by a handful of internet providers to offer their own proprietary low-income internet plans. These providers include AT&T, Comcast, Cox, Charter’s Spectrum, and Verizon, among others. These companies are expected to cover roughly 10 million of the 23 million households relying on the ACP.
The FCC remains ready to resume the program if additional funding is provided in the future.
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