Affordable Connectivity Program

Providing low-income households with discounts for their home internet bills

 The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households $30 per month off their internet bills. ACP-eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. For more information and frequently asked questions, reference our Affordable Connectivity Program Fact Sheet (translated languages available) or the Affordable Connectivity Program PowerPoint Presentation.

Eligibility

A household is eligible for ACP if at least one of the below criteria are met:

  1. The household income is at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines

The table below reflects the income limit by household size, which is 200% of the 2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Household Size

Pennsylvania

1

$27,180

2

$36,620

3

$46,060

4

$55,500

5

$64,940

6

$74,380

7

$83,820

8

$93,620

For each additional person, add:

$9,440

* You may have to show proof of income, like a tax return or three consecutive pays stubs, when you apply for the ACP.

  1. A member of the household meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program

  2. A member of the household participates in one of the following federal assistance programs:

    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

    • Medicaid

    • Housing Choice Voucher

    • Public Housing

    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

    • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

    • Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits

    • Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch and School Breakfast Program

    • Lifeline

    NOTE: You may need to show a card, letter, or official document as proof that you participate in one of these programs when you apply for the ACP.

  3. A member of the household received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.

The ACP is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

How to Enroll?

The enrollment process requires two steps.

    1. Go to AffordableConnectivity.gov to apply online or print out a mail-in application.

    2. Contact the preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to the bill. Please note that some providers may have an alternate application that they will ask you to complete.

Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.

ACP Providers

Various internet providers, including those offering landline and wireless internet service, are participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Visit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website to learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program Providers.

ACP Consumer Protection

FCC rules protect Affordable Connectivity Program recipients by:

      • Empowering consumers to choose the service plan that best meets their needs (including a plan they may already be on)

      • Ensuring consumers have access to supported broadband services regardless of their credit status

      • Prohibiting providers from excluding consumers with past due balances or prior debt from enrolling in the program

      • Preventing consumers from being forced into more expensive or lower quality plans in order to receive the ACP

      • Ensuring that consumers are not liable for early termination fees

      • Reducing the potential for bill shock or other financial harms

      • Allowing ACP recipients to switch providers or broadband service offerings

      • Providing a dedicated FCC process for ACP complaints.

ACP Outreach Grants

The FCC seeks to expand innovative outreach efforts nationwide by strengthening partner networks and empowering them with the resources necessary to increase program awareness and enrollment – with a focus on reaching historically unserved and underserved populations.

The FCC released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the ACP Outreach Grant Program. The NOFO details information and application procedures associated with up to $60 million for the National Competitive Outreach Program (NCOP). Additionally, the FCC released the NOFO for the Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program Outreach Grant and the ACP Navigator Pilot Program Outreach Grant.

Applications for the ACP Outreach Grant Programs are due January 9, 2023. If you intend on submitting an application to any one of these programs, the PBDA would be happy to support your submission through a Letter of Support. We ask that you provide a 1-2 page summary of the project that includes the following information:

      • Applicant Information

      • Scope of Project (condensed)

      • Requested amount of grant

      • Match commitment (this is not a requirement of the program but priority consideration will be given to those entities that do provide a match, in the event of a tie)

      • Period of Performance, if not the full two years that are permitted.

Please send this information to Kalie Snyder (kalsnyder@pa.gov) and Britte Earp (brearp@pa.gov) for review.