The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has run out of funding and is shutting down, causing millions of Americans to lose the discounts they’ve relied on to afford their internet bill. Thankfully, Cox has its own pair of low-income programs: Cox ConnectAssist and Connect2Compete. These plans start at just $9.95 per month and use similar qualifying criteria as the ACP. In addition to the low rates, each plan includes budget-friendly policies that wipe away many of the common fees and roadblocks that make it difficult for low-income families to receive quality internet service.
While there’s still an urgent need for a nationwide solution at the federal level, Cox’s low-income internet plans provide an affordable alternative for families affected by the end of the ACP.
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April was the last fully-funded month of the ACP where those in the program received their full benefit. In May, participants will only receive a partial payment of $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 plans wholly covered by the ACP plan will lose internet service completely unless they opt-in to receiving undiscounted service from their provider. ACP customers can also opt-out of their internet service at the end of the ACP.
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.
You may be one of the millions of households losing much-needed help with their internet bill at the end of the ACP, but there are other government programs that may help you balance your budget.
The Lifeline program works similarly to the ACP by providing qualifying consumers a discount on internet and phone service, but it has stricter eligibility requirements—not all ACP participants will qualify for Lifeline. However, if you qualified for the ACP through one of the programs below, you probably qualify for the Lifeline program:
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.