The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in South Carolina is designed to keep internet service economical for low-income households. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the ACP nationwide on Dec. 31, 2021. The qualifications and benefits for the original Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP) assistance expired on March 1, 2022. Passed in 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Infrastructure Act) modified and extended the EBBP to keep the assistance it provided available via the ACP.
This benefit helps keep more than 20 million households connected to the internet and important online resources nationwide. Many residents rely on internet access to work from home productively, learn remotely and seek resources for employment and healthcare. FTC is happy to be part of the growing network of ACP providers, offering reliable service to qualified customers at an affordable rate. Anyone having difficulty paying for or obtaining internet service should read more about the ACP below.
How the ACP Works
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a monthly credit toward the internet bill of qualified households. Reimbursement is paid directly to the service provider and appears as a credit on the applicant’s monthly bill. The ACP benefits may be applied to any FTC internet plan (limit one monthly discount per household). Beneficiaries do not need to be new customers to apply for this benefit.
ACP may be used for phone and internet service at the same time through a single provider if the connections are bundled. If applicants already receive benefits through the FCC’s Lifeline program, they may still use the ACP program. Only one of each discount may be received per household.
Benefits of ACP
Residential homes that meet income-related eligibility requirements may receive a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service through the ACP. Households on qualifying Tribal lands receive an enhanced benefit.
If a residential service plan costs less than the $30 credit provided by the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program, the internet service provider is reimbursed in full and the services are offered to the household free of charge. If the monthly internet bill, or any bundled services, exceed the $30 ACP discount, the applicant is responsible for paying the difference.
Affordable Connectivity Program Qualifications
While some telecom providers might require a credit check for new customers, this is not a condition of ACP benefits. Eligibility for ACP is based on a household’s gross annual income, which must fall at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. A residence may also qualify if one or more members meet any one of these stipulations:
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Meets the eligibility criteria for the provider’s existing low-income internet program;
- Participates in one of these assistance programs:
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools
- SNAP
- Medicaid
- Receives Federal Housing Assistance, including:
- Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program
- Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)
- Public Housing
- Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawaiians
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- WIC (Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program)
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- or Lifeline
- Participates in one of these assistance programs and lives on qualifying Tribal lands:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal TANF
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal Head Start (income-based)
For additional information about eligibility, visit affordableconnectivity.gov/do-i-qualify.
How to Apply for Affordable Connectivity Program Benefits
Applying for ACP benefits is a simple, two-step process:
- Visit GetInternet.gov (AccedeaInternet.gov en español) to submit a digital application or print out a mail-in application.
- Then visit an FTC location to select a plan and set up the monthly credit payment toward the service.
Online applicants are verified for ACP within minutes, and if additional information is needed to determine eligibility, registrants are notified immediately. Mail-in applications take considerably longer, but subscribers may call 877-384-2575 to check the status anytime.
Finding out if a household is eligible for savings is easy. Visit ftc.net to discover which assistance services are available today. FTC offers a range of internet plans to fit any budget plus take advantage of FTC Connections, a multi-service discount program.
