USA Affordable Connectivity Program

May 11, 2022

A new initiative has been announced by US President Joe Biden to expand the access to high-speed internet for low-income households across the United States for around USD 30 per month.

How many broadband providers have partnered for this program?

For this program, 20 broadband providers have partnered and they will be covering over 80 percent of the country. The partners include Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, and Spectrum. The service providers have agreed to either increase internet speed without increasing cost or reduce rates.

When was the Affordable Connectivity Program created?

In the year 2021, the Affordable Connectivity Program was created by the Biden administration with the aim of providing subsidies to reduce the service costs of the internet. The eligible families will be determined on an income basis as well as enrollment in various other assistance programs.

How will a household be eligible for this program?

A household can be eligible for this program if the income of the household is at or below 200 per cent of the US Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a household’s member meets at least one of the following criteria:

Meets the participating provider’s eligibility criteria for the low-income internet program
Has received a federal pell grant during the current ongoing year

If a member of a low-income household participates in any of the following assistance programs:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The National School Lunch Program
The School Breakfast Program
Federal Public Housing Assistance
Medicaid
WIC
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Lifeline
Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits

They will also be eligible if a person of a household takes part in one of the following assistance programs as well as lives on Qualifying Tribal lands:

Tribal TANF
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Tribal Head Start (income-based)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

How can a household apply?

They will have to visit AffordableConnectivity.gov to apply or print out an application that can be mailed in. The households then can contact their preferred service provider so as to select a plan and then the discount will be applied to their bill.

How many households have already enrolled?

The families will be able to save around USD 30 per month or USD 75 per month on the tribal lands. In the country, around 48 million households qualify to be a part of this program and till 9^th May 2022 over 11.5 million households have already enrolled.

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