The Affordable Connectivity Program, used by many Americans to reduce the cost of home internet connections, will end this month. It is a Federal Communications Commission program that helped ensure home broadband access at a discount to families and individuals that qualified.
The discounts for local users of the program were between $30 and $75 per month and were supported by $14.2 billion in Federal funding. However, that funding ran out, and Congress did not put forward another bill to extend it.
Mike Dobrinski, state representative for District # 59, which includes Blaine County, said he is keeping an eye on some universal funding reforms at the Federal level that may continue the ACP program, but when or how that becomes a reality remains to be seen.
April is the last month that residents using the ACP will get a full discount on their internet bill. Some may receive a partial benefit in May, but unless new funding is enacted the program – and the discounts – will end.
After the ACP program ends, users will be subject to regular rates and general terms and conditions of their internet provider if they continue the service. Households can choose to change their usage plans or cancel them entirely.
If a household applied their ACP discount to an internet plan that has a service contract, the internet company cannot charge the household an early termination fee for ending that service contract early, even after the ACP ends.
There is at least one other option for low-income families and individuals. They may go to Lifeline, another Federal program. To qualify, a household of two in Oklahoma must have an income of $27,594 or less. Other ways to qualify are if the household uses Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP, the old Food Stamp system – receives Medicaid, Supplemental Social Security, housing assistance or veterans or survivors’ pension.
Individuals or households who receive tribal assistance may also be eligible for Lifeline.
Eligible applicants will receive a discount of up to $9.25, while those living on tribal lands may receive a discount of up to $34.25.
Meanwhile, some area service providers are working on programs that could assist residents with the cost of home internet.
Residents can check their eligibility for discount programs by going online, by mail or by going to their local telephone/ internet provider’s office and filling out the required application forms. Lifelineapplications may be accessed at (800)234-9473or LifelineSupport@ usac.org