The Affordable Connectivity Program has offered financial support, allowing low-income households to receive internet at a discounted rate, since 2021. But all of that may be coming to a close due to a lack of funding. While the Program initially received $14.2 billion to get it off the ground, as it stands today, the ACP will be officially ending if the FCC doesn’t receive more funding from Congress. Though there isn’t any official news, the FCC has already started scaling down the Program, with their first major change taking place earlier this month. This would affect the over 22 million households that have already benefitted from the Affordable Connectivity Program, along with any new members they garner in these next few days.
While the jury is still out on whether or not this will mark the end for the ACP, individuals can still apply for enrollment to the Program until February 7th. According to the FCC’s announcement, “Households that enrolled with an ACP internet company before February 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET will continue to receive their ACP benefit until ACP funds run out as long as the household remains enrolled and eligible for the benefit.” Though, even if your household is accepted, these benefits may not last long, as the FCC continues, “All households enrolled in the ACP will continue to receive the benefit on their internet service until ACP funding, which is currently projected through April 2024, runs out.”
For more information on the Affordable Connectivity Program, check out the FCC’s full announcement here.
