As the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) shuts down, millions of Americans will be losing the discounts that they relied on to balance their internet bill with their household budget. While there’s still a pressing need for a nationwide solution at the federal level, many ISPs are helping those affected with their own low-income internet programs.
AT&T customers can get financial assistance through the AT&T Access program , which has been helping people get affordable internet for a long time but was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. If this program sounds like it might work for you, we’ll walk you through the basics of how the program works and how you can apply.
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The AT&T Access program provides low-cost home internet service to eligible households who participate in government programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the National School Lunch program (NSLP). Those with a household income below 200% of federal poverty guidelines are also eligible for the program.
Those who were enrolled in the ACP automatically qualified for the AT&T Access program and their bill was completely covered by the $30 ACP subsidy, giving them AT&T internet with no charge whatsoever. Although AT&T is continuing the Access program, the government subsidy will end in May, so those who continue to use AT&T Access will have to pay the $30 per month cost themselves.
Depending on your location, the AT&T Access program provides either a 100Mbps fiber connection or a 768kbps–100Mbps DSL connection. It also includes professional installation and a gateway or modem at no extra charge to you.
Eligibility for the AT&T Access program requires your household to meet one of the following criteria:
You should also make sure that AT&T offers internet service in your area.
Enter your zip code below to find out what providers have coverage where you live.
When you apply online, you’ll need to make sure you have a copy of the paperwork that verifies your eligibility.
For SNAP, this would be a copy of your SNAP card and a government-issued ID that matches the name on the card.
For the NSLP, you’ll need a copy of the most recent document stating that your child is receiving free or reduced-price lunch as part of the program.
For SSI, you’ll need a copy of your original SSI benefits award letter or a current benefits verification letter with the recipient’s name on it.
And finally, for those with a household income at 200% or less than the federal poverty guidelines, you’ll have to submit a current copy of your SSA1099, W-2, or Social Security statement of benefits to verify your income.
As mentioned, you only need to meet one of these criteria to be eligible for AT&T Access, so if you meet more than one, just choose the option for which it’s easiest to find the necessary documentation.
Once you have your documentation in hand (preferably in a digital format), you can start the application process here .
April is currently the last fully-funded month of the ACP, during which those in the program will receive their full benefit. In May, participants will only receive a partial payment or $7–$16 toward their monthly internet bill, rather than the full $30. After May, no one in the program will receive any benefits unless Congress chooses to fund the program once again.
Once the program has ended, those on an ACP plan will lose internet service completely unless they opt-in to receiving undiscounted service from their provider. For those who got their ACP-subsidized internet through AT&T, the Access program isn’t going away, but you will have to opt-in to paying $30 for AT&T Access—you will not be automatically switched over to the paid plan.
To avoid an interruption in service, you must do the following:
You can also choose to switch to a different provider, or cancel your connection entirely, though we’d suggest looking into other free and low-cost options first.
One of the reasons that the ACP worked so well is that the program was nearly universal—all major internet providers participated in the program and had an incentive to tailor their own plans to work better with the subsidy it provided. Many ISPs have stepped up to fill the gap left by the end of the ACP, but while their requirements and benefits are similar, there’s some important differences between these programs.
If Windstream plans no longer fit your budget without the ACP benefit, here are some other internet providers with affordable internet plans:
The ACP has been one of the most effective and efficient programs for expanding internet access in low-income communities but, fortunately, it’s not the only one. One of the easiest ways to transition away from the ACP is to enroll in another government program.
The other major government program for internet assistance is the Lifeline program. The Lifeline program works similarly to the ACP, but has stricter eligibility requirements and offers a smaller benefit. Not all ACP participants will qualify for Lifeline, but if you qualified for the ACP through one of these programs, you likely qualify for the Lifeline program as well:
Lifeline also offers benefits based on income, but the threshold for Lifeline is 135% of the federal poverty guideline, rather than the 200% needed for the ACP. To check your eligibility for the program, visit the Lifeline website.
If you qualify for both the AT&T Access program and the Lifeline program, you can enroll in both. Unlike the ACP, the Lifeline won’t cover the full $30 monthly cost for AT&T Access, but it will provide some support to lower the amount you’re paying even further.
One of the reasons that the ACP worked so well is that the program was nearly universal—all major internet providers participated in the program and had an incentive to tailor their own plans to work better with the subsidy it provided. This meant that the eligibility requirements and the application process were the same, whether you had Verizon internet in New Jersey or Frontier internet in California.
Many ISPs have stepped up to fill the gap left by the end of the ACP, but while their requirements and benefits are similar, there’s some important differences between these programs.