A program to provide low-income Americans with cheap internet access launched today

Starting today, eligible U.S. residents can apply for subsidies on their internet bills under the new Affordable Connectivity Program. The program was launched today with funding from $14.2 billion allocated by the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in November. U.S. families can apply for a monthly deduction of up to $30 in internet service bills. For families on eligible tribal lands, discounts can be up to $75 per month.

The program can help connect millions of people to the internet, who don't have access to the internet at home, especially in communities that have historically faced barriers to accessing the internet.

According to a report by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in 2017, almost a third of people living on tribal land lacked high-speed internet at home. By comparison, only 1.5 percent of urban dwellers do not have high-speed internet access. In addition to limited infrastructure, cost is often another obstacle. Among the 35 countries studied by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United States has the second highest cost of broadband. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, poverty rates for American Indians and Alaska Natives are among the highest of all racial groups in the United States.

Families applying for affordable connectivity program grants must first be able to access the Internet. They need to visit ACPBenefit.org to apply or print out the application by mail. In addition to this, eligible families are also eligible to receive a one-time $100 discount on laptops, tablets, or desktop computers from participating vendors, including T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is essentially a long-term alternative to the previous Temporary Emergency Broadband Benefits Program, which began helping Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers a $50 per month discount for families who do not live on tribal land and will continue until March 1, 2022.

While the amount of subsidies for some families will be reduced, the FCC has expanded the conditions under which they can apply in general. Families eligible for the WIC (Food Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children) are now also eligible for the Affordable Connect program. Families whose incomes are 200 percent or less than the federal poverty standard are also eligible to apply.

The U.S. has more money to use to close the digital divide. The new $1 trillion infrastructure law includes $65 billion to promote broadband access. According to a Biden administration fact sheet, more than 30 million Americans live in places where there is not enough broadband infrastructure.