Do I receive the funds directly each month?

No, the Affordable Connectivity Program Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a monthly discount on broadband service of up to $30 per eligible household (or up to $75 per eligible household on Tribal lands). The participating broadband service provider will receive the funds directly from the Affordable Connectivity Program.

  Who is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Qualifies for the Lifeline program
• Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
• Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers’ existing low-income or COVID-19 program
• If the individual receive's WIC Benefits currently
• Income at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines: https://www.usac.org/about/affordable-connectivity-program/

Yes, eligible consumers with a past due balance or a balance in collections are eligible for the benefit.

  Can I sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program if I am already a customer or if I was a customer in the past?

Yes, the benefit is available to eligible new, prior and existing customers of participating providers.

No. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount per household, which is defined as any individual or group of individuals who are living together at the same address and share income and expenses.

No. You must opt-in with your existing provider or request enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program with a participating broadband provider and choose an eligible service plan. You can choose to receive the benefit from your current Lifeline service provider or another participating provider.

Yes. You can also combine these benefits with other state and local benefits where available. They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and an Affordable Connectivity Program service with the same or different providers. For example, an eligible household could have a Lifeline-supported mobile phone service and a separate home broadband service that is supported through the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Yes. Households with a student enrolled in a school or school district where every student receives this benefit are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.