The Affordable Connectivity Program: What It Was and What Replaced It
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In this article
The ACP helped low-income households afford internet and phone service. Learn what it covered, why it ended, and what options exist now.
Key Takeaways
- The ACP provided monthly discounts on broadband service for qualifying low-income households.
- The program ended in June 2024 when federal funding was exhausted and Congress did not renew it.
- Lifeline, the FCC's older assistance program, remains active but offers smaller discounts.
- Some states and internet providers have launched their own reduced-cost programs to partially fill the gap.
- Households that relied on the ACP should review current Lifeline eligibility and any carrier-specific low-income plans.
How the ACP Worked
The Affordable Connectivity Program launched in late 2021 as a successor to the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which was itself a pandemic-era response to the digital divide. At its peak, the ACP served roughly 23 million enrolled households across the United States.
Eligible participants received a monthly discount — applied directly to their internet or phone bill — of up to $30 per month for most households, or $75 per month for those living on qualifying Tribal lands. Households could also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 on a qualifying device, provided they contributed at least $10 but no more than $50 of their own money toward the purchase.
Eligibility was broad by design. Households could qualify if their income was at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if any member participated in a federal assistance program such as SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or the free/reduced-price school lunch program, among others. Veterans and survivors receiving certain benefits also qualified.
~23M
Households enrolled at ACP's peak
According to FCC data, enrollment reached approximately 23 million households before the program began winding down in early 2024.
$30/mo
Maximum monthly broadband discount
Most eligible households received up to $30 off their monthly internet bill; households on qualifying Tribal lands received up to $75.
$14.2B
Total ACP congressional appropriation
Congress allocated approximately $14.2 billion to fund the program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
Participating internet providers accepted the ACP benefit, meaning the discount came off the bill automatically rather than requiring households to manage reimbursement themselves. See the Internet Plans hub for a broader look at how home internet pricing works.
Why the ACP Ended
The ACP was funded through a one-time congressional appropriation of approximately $14.2 billion. That funding was always finite, and by early 2024 it was nearly depleted. The FCC paused new enrollments in February 2024 and began notifying enrolled households that benefits would end.
Congress considered legislation to extend the program, but no funding bill passed. The last ACP discounts were applied to bills in June 2024, after which the program officially closed.
The ACP and Lifeline Were Separate Programs
A common point of confusion: the ACP and Lifeline were distinct federal programs with different eligibility thresholds, benefit amounts, and funding mechanisms. The ACP's end did not affect Lifeline. Households that were receiving only ACP benefits lost that discount, while those enrolled in Lifeline continued receiving the smaller Lifeline discount uninterrupted.
The end of the ACP was significant partly because of its scale. At its peak, enrolled households represented millions of people who depended on the benefit to afford broadband at home — particularly in rural areas and communities with lower median incomes. The gap it left behind is real and ongoing.
What's Available Now
The federal safety net for broadband affordability is thinner than it was during the ACP era, but it hasn't disappeared entirely.
Lifeline
The FCC's Lifeline program predates the ACP by decades and remains in place. It offers up to $9.25 per month off qualifying phone or internet service (up to $34.25 on Tribal lands). The discount is smaller than what the ACP offered, but the program is stable and ongoing. Eligibility requirements are also narrower — income must be at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, compared to the ACP's 200% threshold.
For a deeper look at how Lifeline and related programs work, see Low-Income Internet Assistance Programs.
Check Eligibility Before Assuming You Don't Qualify
Lifeline's income threshold (135% of federal poverty guidelines) is lower than the ACP's was, but many households still qualify through program participation — Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and Federal Public Housing Assistance all count. It takes only a few minutes to check on the USAC website, and enrollment is free.
State and Carrier Programs
Several states have stepped in with their own broadband affordability programs, funded through state budgets or federal infrastructure grants. Some internet providers also offer their own low-income tiers — these are carrier-specific and vary in terms of eligibility, speed, and pricing. Student and low-income wireless programs are another avenue worth exploring if you need reduced-cost mobile service specifically.
How to Evaluate Your Current Options
If your household was enrolled in the ACP and lost the benefit, the most practical starting point is checking Lifeline eligibility through the USAC website. Beyond that, it's worth contacting your current internet provider directly to ask whether they offer any income-based discount tiers — some do, even without federal subsidy requirements.
Comparing providers in your area is also worthwhile, since pricing and plan structures differ significantly. The Internet Plans hub can help orient you on what to look for. If bundling your internet with a wireless plan is on the table, bundling internet with a wireless phone plan outlines how those combinations work and where trade-offs emerge.
“Access to affordable broadband is no longer optional infrastructure — it's the baseline for participating in the modern economy, from job searches to telehealth to education.”
— Jessica Rosenworcel, Former FCC Chairwoman
The broader lesson from the ACP's arc is that federal broadband assistance programs can be time-limited. Building awareness of all available options — federal, state, and carrier-level — gives households the flexibility to adapt when one program ends.
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