The ACP is Winding Down
The Affordable Connectivity Program stopped accepting new applications and enrollments on February 7, 2024. The last fully funded month of the program is April 2024.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal program that offers eligible households a discount on their monthly internet bill and a one-time discount off the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. The $14.2 billion Congress initially allocated for the ACP is running out. Due to the lack of additional funding for the ACP, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun taking steps to wind-down the ACP.
What does this mean for ACP households?
• There are no new enrollments after February 7th, 2024.
• Enrolled households will continue to receive benefits until the end of ACP.
• April 2024 will be the last month ACP households will receive a full ACP discount, unless there is further funding from Congress. Households may receive a partial ACP discount in May 2024.
• During the wind-down, ACP households should receive notices from their internet company about the end of ACP, impacts on their bill, and options for changing service.
• Households should explore other low-cost options with their internet company or shop around for internet service from another company.
ACP Wind-Down Timeline
• January 25, 2024: Households that were receiving the ACP discount should have received their first notice from their internet company about the end of the ACP.
• February 8, 2024: The ACP stopped accepting new applications and enrollments. Households that already approved and enrolled with an internet company before this date will continue to receive their ACP discounts until the ACP ends.
• March 19, 2024: ACP households should have received their second notice from their internet company about the end of ACP and the impact on their internet service bill. The third notice will be included as part of the last bill or billing cycle in which the full ACP discount is applied.
• April 2024: If Congress does not provide additional funding, April 2024 will be the last month ACP households will receive the full ACP discount.
• May 2024: If Congress does not provide additional funding, ACP households may receive a partial ACP discount from their internet company in May 2024.
• After May 2024: If Congress does not provide additional funding, the ACP will run out of funding and ACP households will no longer receive the ACP benefit.
For more information and updates about the ACP Wind-Down, refer to the resources below:
1. Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Wind-Down Fact Sheet: https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/ACP_Wind-down_Fact_Sheet_Final.pdf
2. Universal Service Administrative Co. Updates: https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/
3. Education Superhighway Community Resources: https://www.educationsuperhighway.org/acpbenefit/wind-down/