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. Please refer to the FCC’s website at fcc.gov/acp for more information.
Important News:On January 11, the FCC released an Order announcing the wind-down requirements of the Affordable Connectivity Program, due to a lack of additional funding from Congress. On March 4, the FCC provided further information in a Public Notice that announced the last fully funded month of the program is April 2024. Providers currently participating in the ACP are strongly encouraged to review the FCC’s Order and Public Notice, which set out requirements regarding the specific and frequent notices to enrolled ACP households about the end of the program.
Q: What is the ACP?
A: The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program run by theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices.
The ACP offers a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Q: Why can’t consumers apply for the ACP?
A: As of February 8, 2024, the Affordable Connectivity Program stopped accepting new applications or enrollments. Consumers already enrolled in the program will continue to receive their benefit until funding runs out. The last fully funded month of the program is April 2024. Service providers are required to inform consumers when the ACP discount on their monthly bill will end.
Q: Are there additional resources on the ACP Wind-Down?
A: For more information on the ACP Wind-Down please review any of the following resources:
- USAC’s ACP Wind-Down Webinar
- USAC’s ACP Wind-Down Office Hours
- USAC’s Bulletin Announcing the ACP Wind Down
- The FCC’s ACP Wind-Down Fact Sheet
- The FCC’s ACP Wind-Down FAQs
- The FCC’s Public Notice
We also encourage service providers to read the FCC’s Order, released on January 11, 2024, announcing procedures, important dates, and the impact the ACP Wind-Down is expected to have on consumers and providers.
Q: What happens if Congress provides additional funding for the ACP?
A: If Congress provides additional funding for the ACP, the FCC will provide further guidance on the program.
Q: How many notices are service providers required to send ACP subscribers?
A: Service providers are required to send at least three (3) written notices to households enrolled in the ACP in the same way they normally communicate with households – in their preferred language and by either email, text, or in the mail along with their bill.
Households should have already received the first notice, informing them about the possible upcoming end of ACP and its potential impact to the ACP households’ bills. The second and third notices must inform ACP households of the following:
- That the ACP is ending,
- The impact on their bill,
- The date of the last bill they will receive that includes the ACP benefit, and
- That they may change their service or opt-out of continuing service after the end of the ACP.
The second required notice must be sent after the FCC releases the Public Notice announcing the last fully funded month of the ACP, by March 19, 2024. This notice must provide the last month the benefit will be on the household’s bill.
The third required notice must coincide with the last bill or billing cycle in which the full ACP benefit is applied.
Q: What transactions can service providers perform in NLAD, after the enrollment freeze?
A: Service providers can still access NLAD through One Portal and will be able to perform all transaction types in NLAD except ‘Enroll’.
Service providers can perform verify, transfer, update, and de-enroll transactions in NLAD after the enrollment freeze.
Q: Are benefit transfers still allowed after the enrollment freeze?
A: Yes, service providers will still be able, but not required, to perform transfer transactions after the February 7 enrollment freeze. After the enrollment freeze begins, any active subscriber will be able to transfer to a new provider. They will not be required to requalify before transferring.
Service providers are still required to obtain consumer consent before completing this transaction and all rules related to transfer limits will still apply.
Q: What happens if a consumer is accidentally de-enrolled after February 8?
A: If a consumer is de-enrolled from the ACP after the enrollment freeze, the consumer will not be able to re-apply or re-enroll in the ACP.
Q: What are the deadlines for submitting reimbursem*nt claims in the Affordable Connectivity Claims System?
A: Beginning with the February 1, 2024, snapshot (January 2024 data month) and all future data months, service providers have up to two months to submit original claims or upward revisions of previous claims. For example, claims must be submitted and certified for the January 2024 data month by April 1, 2024.
Claims for all prior data months (September – December 2023) must be submitted and certified no later than April 1, 2024.
