LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A popular program under the Biden administration that offered monthly discounts on internet service for low-income households has run out of funding— but Arkansans who relied on it may be able to qualify for an alternative.
More than 23 million Americans received subsidies of up to $75 each month under the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP helped more than 215,000 households in Arkansas, or one in six, save money on their internet bills.
Right now, a last-ditch effort to keep the program going for one more year is sitting in congressional subcommittees with no recent action taken.
In April, the last of the funding for the ACP dried up, after its inception on December 31, 2021. Without congressional action, monthly bills for May and beyond will no longer reflect the discount.
However, if you're looking for an alternative to the government discount program, you're in luck thanks to a decades-old federal program called Lifeline.
Lifeline is available for homes with income levels at or below 135% of federal poverty guidelines. You can also qualify if at least one member of your family is in a public assistance plan, like Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Lifeline was first established in 1985 and originally provided a discount on phone service alone, but now it also includes high-speed internet. The discount, however, is far less than the ACP, at only $9.25 monthly— but when necessities are barely covered, it can certainly help.
According to the AARP, "Lifeline has stricter eligibility requirements and provides less help with fewer broadband providers than the ACP, but Lifeline offers a useful alternative to chip $9.25 a month off a broadband bill."
So, we can verify that there is a viable alternative to the ACP. Arkansans can see if they qualify for the Lifeline plan by clicking here.