Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) to become Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
In December 2021 Congress created the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new long-term, $14 billion program, which will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. This investment in broadband affordability will help ensure we can afford the connections we need for work, school, health care and more for a long time.
Households fully enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of December 31, 2021 continued to receive their current monthly benefit until March 1, 2022.
As of March 1, 2022, the discounted rate will change from up to per month to up to per month for eligible households. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount per household.
Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
A household is eligible if a 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 in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;
– Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
– Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program.
For more information about the Affordable Connectivity Program and these changes, please visit the Federal Communications Commission website- www.FCC.gov/ACP
