The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been sharing information and bringing awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program. This new long-term program can assist individuals who use telehealth services to help lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households struggling to afford internet service.
The ACP provides:
- Up to $30/month discount for broadband service;
- Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying tribal lands; and
- A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if the household contributes more than $10 but less than $50 toward the purchase price.
The ACP is limited to 1 monthly service discount and 1 device discount per household.
Who’s Eligible?
An individual’s household is eligible for the ACP if the household income is at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or if a member of the household meets at least 1 of the criteria outlined on the FCC’s website.
Individuals can enroll in two steps by:
- Going to ACPBenefit to apply online or print a mail-in application; and
- Contacting their preferred participating ACP provider to select a plan, who will apply the discount to the patient’s bill.
Some ACP providers may request individuals to complete an alternative application. Eligible households must apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.
For Additional Information:
- Visit the FCC’s website, or call 877-384-2575.
- See the Consumer Outreach Toolkit.
- Check the White House Fact Sheet.
