Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

What It Means

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was a federal broadband affordability subsidy administered by the FCC and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at $14.2 billion. ACP provided eligible low-income households up to $30 per month toward internet service, up to $75 per month on qualifying tribal lands, and a one-time $100 device discount. Eligibility was set at 200% of the federal poverty level (roughly $60,000 for a family of four in 2024) or participation in SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline, or several other federal assistance programs. At its peak in early 2024, ACP served approximately 23 million U.S. households, making it the largest broadband affordability program in U.S. history, roughly 5x larger than the Lifeline phone program it partially overlapped with. Congress did not extend ACP funding, and the program wound down through April and May 2024, with the final month of subsidies paid at 50% in May 2024. ACP effectively ended June 1, 2024. In response, several major ISPs created low-cost plans targeting former ACP subscribers: Xfinity Internet Essentials ($9.95 to $29.95 per month), AT&T Access ($30 per month for 100 Mbps), T-Mobile Metro Internet ($30 per month), and Spectrum Internet Assist ($24.99 per month). However, research from the Benton Institute found that roughly 20% of former ACP subscribers dropped broadband entirely after the subsidy ended. Proposals to revive ACP through the FY2025 or FY2026 appropriations process have been introduced but not passed as of April 2026. BEAD-funded deployments must still offer a low-cost plan option.

Frequently Asked Questions