What Happened to the Affordable Connectivity Program
Let us start with the elephant in the room. The Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP, used to knock up to $30 a month off internet bills for qualifying households. That program is no longer active. The last fully funded month was May 2024, and discounts stopped after June 1 of that year when Congress did not approve additional funding. In 2026, new ACP applications are not being accepted, and there is no nationwide replacement with the same monthly discount.
That news frustrates a lot of families, and understandably so. The ACP was the most generous federal broadband benefit in recent memory. But the story does not end there. Several active alternatives remain, and for many households, combining them can bring monthly costs down to a genuinely affordable level.
The Lifeline Program: Still the Backbone of Federal Support
The most important active federal program is Lifeline, administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Lifeline provides a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on phone or internet service, and up to $34.25 for residents on Tribal lands. It is not a free service program by itself, but it functions like a monthly credit applied to a participating provider's plan.
Eligibility follows two main paths. You qualify if your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if you participate in a qualifying assistance program such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or federal public housing assistance. For 2026, the income threshold for a single person in the 48 contiguous states is roughly $21,500, and about $29,200 for a two-person household. Alaska and Hawaii have higher thresholds.
There is also a lesser-known path through the Safe Connections Act. Survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, or related crimes can qualify under looser rules, including household income at or below 200% of the poverty guidelines, WIC enrollment, free or reduced-price school lunch participation, or receipt of a Federal Pell Grant. This path can provide up to six months of emergency support and was written into law specifically to protect vulnerable applicants.
Provider Plans That Fill the Gap
Since the ACP ended, the biggest internet providers stepped up with their own low-income plans. These are not government programs, but they work alongside Lifeline and are worth knowing about.
Comcast's Internet Essentials expanded its eligibility in late 2025. Households can now qualify based on income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or through participation in a federal benefits program. A family of four earning under roughly $64,300 can qualify. The plan costs about $14.95 per month and includes the Xfinity Gateway, unlimited data, access to digital skills training, and millions of Xfinity WiFi hotspots. A low-cost computer is available for around $149.95 as an optional add-on.
AT&T offers Access from AT&T, an affordable home internet plan for households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or receiving National School Lunch Program benefits. Eligible customers with AT&T Fiber or AT&T Internet Air may also qualify for a $10 monthly discount on AT&T wireless service when paired with an eligible unlimited plan. The enrollment line is 855-220-5225.
| Program | Type | Typical Monthly Cost | Who Qualifies | Main Benefit | Watch Out For |
|---|
| Lifeline | Federal subsidy | $9.25 credit ($34.25 on Tribal lands) | Income at/below 135% FPL or SNAP, Medicaid, SSI | Direct discount on phone or internet bill | One benefit per household |
| Comcast Internet Essentials | Provider plan | Around $14.95 | Income at/below 200% FPL or federal benefits | Unlimited data, WiFi hotspots, low-cost computer option | Availability varies by region |
| AT&T Access | Provider plan | Varies by market | SNAP or school lunch participants | Affordable home internet plus wireless discount | Requires active eligibility verification |
| State programs (e.g., California LifeLine) | State subsidy | Varies | State-specific income rules | Extra discount stacked with federal support | Rules differ by state |
State-Level Programs Worth Checking
Several states run their own versions of internet and phone support. California LifeLine, for example, continues to provide subsidies that reduce the cost of qualifying voice and bundled voice-and-broadband services for eligible households. In a 2026 update, the California Public Utilities Commission adjusted the program to increase support while reducing administrative costs, including changes to wireless activation reimbursements. Other states, including New York, Texas, and Washington, maintain their own broadband offices that coordinate local discount programs.
The fastest way to find state help is to search for your state's Public Utility Commission plus the word "broadband" or "Lifeline." Many state PUCs publish brochures and keep updated lists of participating providers in your area.
How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Path
Applying for Lifeline takes about twenty minutes if you have your documents ready. Here is the process that works.
First, check your eligibility using the National Verifier at LifelineSupport.org. This is the official FCC-designated portal, and it handles both the eligibility check and the application itself. You will need your Social Security number, proof of address, and documentation of your qualifying program participation or income. If you are applying through the Safe Connections Act path, gather any documentation related to your survivor status and your request to separate from a shared phone plan.
Second, after approval, choose a participating provider in your area that offers a plan matching your needs. You can use the benefit toward a wireless plan, a home phone, or a home broadband package. Some providers offer a basic tier that the $9.25 credit covers almost entirely, bringing your out-of-pocket cost close to zero.
Third, once your Lifeline benefit is active, check whether your provider also offers a low-income internet plan like Internet Essentials or Access from AT&T. Because Lifeline is a credit and provider plans are separate products, eligible households can sometimes combine them, though rules vary by provider. Ask directly whether stacking is allowed before you sign anything.
Fourth, verify your enrollment every year. Lifeline requires annual recertification, and USAC sends reminders. If you miss the deadline, you can lose the benefit, so mark your calendar the moment you are approved.
Common Mistakes That Delay Applications
The single biggest reason applications get rejected is the definition of "household." Lifeline defines a household as everyone living at the same address who shares income and expenses as one economic unit. Two roommates who split rent but keep separate finances are two separate households and can each receive a benefit. But a married couple, or a parent and adult child who pool money and share groceries, counts as one household with one benefit.
Another frequent mistake involves income documentation. Lifeline looks at gross household income, meaning the total before taxes for everyone in the household. That includes wages, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, unemployment, and workers' compensation. People often under-report by leaving out retirement income, which triggers a mismatch during verification.
A third issue is the annual recertification. Households that qualified through program participation, such as SNAP or Medicaid, may lose eligibility if that program enrollment lapses. Keep your benefit program active, or be prepared to switch to the income-based path.
What About the Future of Federal Broadband Support
Advocacy groups continue to push for a new federal broadband benefit, and several bills have circulated in Congress proposing a successor to the ACP. As of late 2026, none has passed, so relying on future legislation is not a strategy. The practical approach is to layer what exists now: Lifeline where you qualify, provider low-income plans where available, and state programs where they operate.
One thing worth noting: scammers know the ACP ending left a vacuum. If anyone contacts you offering an "ACP replacement" that requires a payment or your full Social Security number over the phone, that is a red flag. Legitimate programs like Lifeline never ask for upfront fees, and official applications run through LifelineSupport.org or your provider's verified enrollment channel.
Getting Connected Starts With One Call
The process may look like paperwork, but it really comes down to a few concrete moves: verify your eligibility through the National Verifier, pick a participating provider, and set a reminder for recertification. Families across the country use these steps every month to keep their connections alive while stretching their budgets.
If your current bill feels out of reach, start with LifelineSupport.org today. Ten minutes of checking eligibility can lead to a monthly discount that changes what is possible for your household, whether that means keeping a job interview on the calendar or helping a kid finish homework without racing the library clock. The programs have changed since the ACP days, but the help is still there, and it starts with that first application.
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