Council President Wardine Alexander is encouraging residents to look into a new program being offered through the Affordable Connectivity Program, which offers low-cost home Internet for low-income families. As households prepare to send their children back to school, having access to affordable Internet is vital to their academic success. Eligible households can receive at $30 per month voucher to be applied to their Internet bill, among other assistance.
As Chair of the Utilities and Technology Committee, President Alexander has been working closely with service providers to bring this new program to households who are in need of affordable Internet.
“Making sure that everyone has access to high-speed Internet has been a major focus of this committee and of the Council as a whole,” Alexander said. “As we’ve seen during the last several years, it’s critically important for our young people to be able to access virtual learning tools and I think this program is a great opportunity to assist households that need it most.”
Here are some of the benefits that residents can get through the ACP:
Up to $30/month discount for broadband service
Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands
A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if the household contributes more than $10 but less than $50 toward the purchase price.
For residents who are eligible, here is how you can sign up and select an Internet service provider in your area:
1. Go to AffordableConnectivity.gov to submit an application or print out a mail-in application
2. Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill. Some providers may have an alternative application that they will ask you to complete. Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.
A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household participates in any of the following assistance programs: SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline To confirm eligibility, please visit www.acpbenefit.org