More than 77,000 households in King County and 344,000 in Washington State are being notified this month that April is the last full month for their Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) internet discount.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal benefit that has helped 23 million qualifying low-income households pay for internet service and devices. The ACP is running out of money and is ending unless Congress approves new funding. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is closing out the program. They stopped accepting new enrollments in February. When ACP funds run out, households participating will no longer receive the discounts. Households have options for continuing service and switching plans, but must communicate with their internet provider to choose and confirm a continuing internet service plan and costs when the discount ends…or to ensure they end their service plan with a company if they want to.
Important Dates
March 19, 2024, Second notice of ACP program ending: All customers enrolled in the ACP with an internet provider are supposed to receive a second notices from their internet provider by March 19 explaining the discount end, impact on their bill, and how to work with their internet company to select what plan and confirm continued internet service.
April 2024 Benefits wind down: April is the last month that ACP customers will receive their full discount. They may receive a partial benefit if funding is available and the internet provider provides it.
May 2024 End of benefits: ACP discounts are reduced or stopped entirely. Your household bills will increase.
Tips for internet customers:
For help navigating the ACP wind-down process, ACP consumers are encouraged to do the following:
- Check communications from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) consistently for more information and updates regarding the ACP benefit and wind-down information. ISPs are required to send you notifications in your language of choice (as selected during enrollment).
- Contact your internet company for questions about how the end of the ACP will affect their monthly bill and to ask about available options. Look for a customer service contact on your bill.
- Contact the USAC ACP Support Center at 877-384-2575 for updates on application status and questions about the ACP wind-down.
- Visit fcc.gov/acp and affordableconnectivity.gov for the latest information on program updates and outreach materials, including an ACP Wind-Down Fact Sheet with translations in Arabic, Chinese-Traditional, Chinese-Simplified, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
- Visit the FCC Consumer Complaint Center at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov to file a formal complaint regarding service providers not following FCC wind-down procedures.
- Consider if and how you will stay connected without the ACP. Will you still be able to afford your current service? Many ISPs have discounted options for $9.95/month + tax that you can choose. Explore Low Cost Internet Programs or the Lifeline Program. If you are already also on Lifeline, the end of your ACP benefit will not impact your Lifeline benefits.
- Remember that if you are enrolled in ACP you can cancel at any time and at no penalty.
Take action to tell Congress to continue the Affordable Connectivity Program You can get involved. Visit DontDisconnectUS.org to learn more about ACP funding and to call or email your elected officials. The “Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024” is a bipartisan effort in the House and Senate to continue funding. Even at the last minute, it’s possible that funding could be renewed, though this may be done with changes.
The Digital Equity Learning Network (DELN) of Seattle and King County is a collaboration of community based organizations, public and private institutions, and individuals invested in digital equity in our region. We provide opportunities to connect our local digital equity community to share resources, learn best practices, increase awareness and support for community efforts, and create partnerships.