Having Internet in your home is more recently considered a basic need for most homes in the United States. That’s why the FCC has created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to help financially disadvantaged individuals with their connectivity needs. If you meet certain criteria, you can qualify for the ACP to save money on your monthly broadband Internet bill. To get started, all you need to do is use the online form to enroll in this federal program, and then call Spectrum to see which Internet options are available to you. In doing so, you can take advantage of a free program to ensure that your home is connected to the Internet and to the world.
- What Is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
- Who Qualifies for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
- Can the Affordable Connectivity Program Benefit Be Applied to Spectrum?
- How Do I Apply for Spectrum With ACP Benefits?
- Affordable Connectivity Program FAQ
What Is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a program that provides internet assistance to qualified citizens in the United States. Enrolled participants can receive $30 per month to put towards their monthly connectivity bills, and participants in Tribal areas can receive up to $75 each month.
Additionally, approved applicants are also provided with a one-time $100 device discount which applies to devices priced within a certain range. To qualify a device purchase, users must contribute no less than $10 and no more than $50 towards the purchase price (so, in other words, the top-end budget for the purchase price of an approved internet-enabled device is between $110 and $159.99).
Finally, devices and Internet services can only be purchased from participating providers in the ACP. Happily, Spectrum is one of the providers you can depend on for your ACP discount needs! Just read on for more information about how to enroll.
Who Qualifies for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
A wide variety of citizens are eligible for the ACP. In general, qualification specifications boil down to two separate categories: household income or federal program involvement. If you or your household meet any ONE of the following criteria, you could be eligible for ACP benefits!
Income
ACP approval can be granted to households with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Since some poverty guidelines vary by state, you'll want to consider current poverty guidelines for this year. Poverty guidelines account for how much household income is being accumulated in conjunction with how many people reside in the household. Check the charts below to see if your household income qualifies you for the ACP discount. Since the program's guidelines dictate that acceptable applicants are at or below the 200% mark for national poverty guidelines, you should consider applying if your household income is the same as or less than the listed amounts in the following charts.
2022 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
| Annual Household Income | Persons per Household |
| $25,760 | 1 |
| $34,840 | 2 |
| $43,920 | 3 |
| $53,000 | 4 |
| $62,080 | 5 |
| $71,160 | 6 |
| $80,240 | 7 |
| $89,320 | 8 |
| Add $9,080 to the original 8-person amount for each additional household member | 9+ |
2022 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska
| Annual Household Income | Persons per Household |
| $32,180 | 1 |
| $43,540 | 2 |
| $54,900 | 3 |
| $66,260 | 4 |
| $77,620 | 5 |
| $88,980 | 6 |
| $100,340 | 7 |
| $111,700 | 8 |
| Add $11,360 to the original 8-person amount for each additional household member | 9+ |
2022 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii
| Annual Household Income | Persons per Household |
| $29,640 | 1 |
| $40,080 | 2 |
| $50,520 | 3 |
| $60,960 | 4 |
| $71,400 | 5 |
| $81,840 | 6 |
| $92,280 | 7 |
| $102,720 | 8 |
| Add $10,440 to the original 8-person amount for each additional household member | 9+ |
Federal Program Involvement
If you and your family do not qualify for the ACP through your accumulated household income, then you can check to see if you can gain program approval by being enrolled in another federal assistance program. These programs include:
- Nutrition programs, such as: SNAP, WIC, free/reduced-price school lunch program or food stamps
- Tribal-specific programs, such as: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Lifeline
- SSI
- Federal Pell Grant (during current award year)
- And more! Check the online qualifier (linked below in the “How Do I Apply for Spectrum With ACP Benefits?” section) to see other ways you may be able to qualify for the ACP
To make your household eligible through this category of criteria, only one member of your household must be actively enrolled in just one of these programs.
Can the Affordable Connectivity Program Benefit Be Applied to Spectrum?
Yes, your ACP benefits can be applied to Spectrum Internet services! As long as Spectrum is available to your area, one of our agents can help you get connected once you're approved for the program. Here's what your Internet prices could look like with the ACP discount:
Spectrum Internet Prices With ACP Discounts
| Spectrum Internet Plan | Regular Promotional Price (w/ Auto Pay) | Price With $30 ACP Benefit (w/ Auto Pay) | Price With $75 ACP Benefit (on Tribal Lands) |
| Spectrum Internet | $49.99 | $19.99 | $0 |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra | $69.99 | $39.99 | $0 |
| Spectrum Internet Gig | $79.99 | $59.99 | $14.99 |
To check out the specifics of our Spectrum Internet subscriptions, visit our Spectrum Internet page.
How Do I Apply for Spectrum With ACP Benefits?
Before you contact us about enrolling in your ACP-supported Spectrum Internet subscription, your first step is to apply for the federal program. Since this is a government-organized program, you’ll of course need to apply to it through a non-Spectrum site. You can apply in one of two ways: apply for the ACP online or submit your application through the mail to:
ACP Support Center
P.O. Box 7081
London, KY 40742
For both application options, you’ll need to provide copies of your proof of identity as well as proof supporting your qualifying condition for being considered for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Once you’ve been approved for the ACP, just call us to help you sign up for Spectrum Internet with your new ACP discount!