How to connect to the internet for less after the ACP expires
Once a lifeline for millions of Americans seeking affordable internet access, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended on May 31, 2024. While it was around, the program provided affordable internet for about 23 million households with monthly subsidies of $30 for eligible households and $75 for those on Tribal lands.
This enabled people to access the internet at a price they could afford. You see, internet access is no longer a luxury. It's a necessity. We use it to do our jobs, see our doctors, and send our kids to school. But, when you're hard-pressed to pay the rent and keep food on the table, the internet can't be your priority.
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So it's no surprise that a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) contractor found that 25% of former ACP users had or were canceling their internet service. In addition, according to the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, 36% of 8.3 million households would downgrade to a cheaper or slower plan. While there were efforts afoot to renew the ACP, they've come to nothing.
However, other government plans may help people get affordable internet. Chief among these is the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. This $42.45 billion plan is meant to distribute funds at local levels for Internet Service Providers (ISP) to provide 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) down and 3 Mbps up to underserved areas and to provide affordable internet. However, BEAD services are entangled in red tape and remain unavailable. It will be next year at the earliest before these services become available.
Nevertheless, many options are still available for people seeking affordable internet access.
How to stay connected for less
1. Consider these low-income options
Start with this Everyone On service to find affordable, local internet services. This group works with ISPs to identify affordable internet, computing devices, and digital skill training by zip code. To try it, use the Everyone On's national locator tool. You'll find the low-cost internet option in your area in less than a minute.
Check to see if your ISP offers a low-income discount plan if you qualify for one. AT&T, Cox, Optimum, Spectrum, and Xfinity, among others, offer inexpensive packages.
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Below are the major discount internet access programs available for low-income households available throughout much of the country.
Access from AT&T
AT&T offers internet service for a budget-friendly $30/month, offering speeds of up to 100Mbps, based on the maximum speed available at your address. The best part? There are no contracts, deposits, or equipment fees. This plan also bundles in a free Wi-Fi access point.
To qualify: You qualify if you're currently eligible for any of these programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for California residents; National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or if you make 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For 2024, in most of the US, that's $62,400 a year for a family of four.
Cox Connect2Compete
This service is available for $10 a month and offers speeds of up to 100Mbps, based on the maximum speed available at your address. There are no contracts, deposits, or equipment fees, and it comes with a free Wi-Fi access point.
To qualify: This program is available for families with K-12 students. They must also be on one or more of the following programs: NSLP, SNAP, and/or TANF; receive Tenant-Based Vouchers, Project-Based Vouchers, or Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA); and/or live in public housing.
Kinetic by Windstream Benefit Credit
ACP is gone but Kinetic by Windstream's ACP is still offering a credit that matches the previous federal subsidy. This service begins at $40 a month without the credit. With it, you'll only pay $10 a month for 300Mbps speeds.
To qualify: As long as you continue to meet the eligibility standards set by the ACP, you'll receive the credit.
Mediacom Xtream Connect
You can get up to 100Mbps/20Mbps cable download speeds with Mediacom's Xtream Connect program if you're in a qualified low-income household. The $29 monthly fee includes a $14-per-month modem rental fee. The company will waive the modem fee if you have a child in the NSLP. Best of all, there are no contract or installation fees.
To qualify: You or someone in your home must participate in one of the following programs: SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, NSLP, Federal Pell Grant recipients in the current award year, Lifeline Program administered by the Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC), and Tribal Assistance Programs.
Optimum Advantage Internet
Optimum Advantage offers internet speeds up to 50 Mbps for $15 a month. Like the other plans, it has no contracts, deposits, or equipment fees, and includes a free Wi-Fi access point.
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To qualify: Your household must not have had internet within the past 60 days, and a member of the household must meet one or more of the following eligibility requirements: receives NSLP; lives in New York City and attends a public school; is eligible for or receives SSI and is 65 or older; and/or is a veteran receiving state or federal public assistance.
Spectrum Internet Assist
This plan costs $18 a month for up to 30 Mbps. There are no contracts, deposits, or equipment fees. Unlike the others, though, Wi-Fi is an additional $5 a month but it does come with security software.
To qualify: You or a household member must receive one or more of these assistance programs: NSLP; Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP, and/or SSI if you are 65 or older.
TDS Connect
Former ACP users can get cheap internet through the TDS Connect program. With it, you can get up to 200Mbps service for $30 per month.
To qualify: The requirements are the same as they were under the ACP, i.e. receive one or more of these assistance programs: NSLP, CEP, or SNAP.
Verizon Forward
Verizon Forward offers 300Mbps fiber and 4G/5G internet plans for as little as $20 a month.
With Verizon, rather than paying for a set plan, you get a $30 credit. So, if you wanted to get internet service and a streaming package with Disney+, you could do that.
To qualify: These internet plans require assistance from a Federal government program. This discount can be combined with Lifeline and military discounts.
Xfinifty Internet Essentials
Xinifty's low-price offering comes with up to 50 Mbps speeds for $10 a month -- again, without contracts, deposits, or equipment fees. Xfinity also offers a Dell Latitude 3140 Windows 11 laptop or Dell Chromebook 3110 at a discounted price of $150 (normally, these retail for $270 and $350, respectively).
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To qualify: You can get this service if you or someone in your household qualifies for programs including NSLP, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, and or they were enrolled in the ACP with Xfinity. In addition, you can not have had Xfinity internet within the last 90 days unless you were enrolled in ACP with Xfinity.
Human-I-T
The non-profit e-waste reclaiming organization Human-I-T offers low-cost devices and internet services, like this 4G-based option that costs $15 per month.
To qualify: It's only available for people under approved government assistance programs such as SNAP, SSI, and Section 8 Housing, or who have an annual household income under 200% of the Federal poverty level.
2. Consider these other options
Lifeline
Lifeline, another federal program, offers low-income households a $9.25 monthly subsidy that can be used for home internet service. Unlike the ACP, it's permanently funded, so you won't have to worry about losing it.
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To qualify: You can qualify if your income is 135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines or if you participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or other federal poverty programs. You can also get Lifeline if you've been affected by a recent disaster. The rule is that if you received FEMA's Individuals and Household Program support, you can get Lifeline. Check the Universal Service Fund to see who offers Lifeline services in your area.
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
MVNOs are primarily about offering smartphone services, but these also include internet access.
Companies such as Mint Mobile ($15 a month), Tello Mobile ($5 a month for 1 GB, no minutes), and Wing ($17 monthly for 1 GB plan) offer cheaper cell phone plans with decent 4G or even 5G internet access.
NetZero
A blast from the past, the old-school NetZero ISP still offers a free, albeit very limited, dial-up plan.
When I say limited, I mean 10 hours a month of connectivity. Another low-cost service, FreedomPop, offers 5G services for as little as $10 per month. It only comes with 1 GB of traffic per month, but it's hard to beat for that price.
3. Buy your own equipment
You can also cut your ISP bill down by buying your own equipment. Many ISPs charge around $10 monthly to rent equipment such as cable modems and Wi-Fi access points. You can find new Wi-Fi routers for as little as $50, but an old Wi-Fi router will work just as well at these Internet speeds. I've found great hardware in second-hand stores for next to nothing.
Cable modems are a different story. You usually need one of a handful of specific models to work with your ISP. Once you've found out which will work for you, you can usually buy one. Yes, it will cost you a pretty penny upfront, but you can likely recoup the price within a year.
4. Negotiate with your ISP
You can also try haggling with your ISP. If your customer service representative has a choice between losing your business or offering you a lower price, they may give you a better deal. You never know until you try; it's worked for me over the years.
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If you're struggling to choose between cable TV and internet, see what bundles your providers offer. Many offer discounted TV/internet packages. You may also be better off with a second-tier ISP/cable provider. Check HighSpeedInternet's TV and internet bundle page offers as low as $40 a month. Most such plans cost a good deal more.
5. Libraries, community centers, and schools
Going to other places for internet access is not ideal, but when you need a connection, you need a connection.
You probably already know that almost all libraries offer free Wi-Fi. You may not know that many also let you borrow a cellular Wi-Fi hotspot. Typically, you can borrow a unit for two weeks, and they come with free connectivity. Most, but not all, use the T-Mobile network, but you don't need a T-Mobile account to use them.
Many community centers, including those run by local governments or religious organizations, also offer free or low-cost internet access. That's what helped keep me online after Hurricane Helene smashed my hometown. Finally, local schools and nonprofits may also offer free or low-cost internet.
You can also use your local coffee shop's free Wi-Fi, of course, but be careful when using any public Wi-Fi connection.