If you had the ACP discount and watched it disappear from your bill, you are not alone, and you are not out of options. The Affordable Connectivity Program is gone, but the older federal program is still running, and the big providers kept their own low-cost plans.

This guide lists what still exists as of October 2026, who qualifies, and what it costs, using only the government and provider pages we checked. It also flags the one thing to avoid.

Did the Affordable Connectivity Program end?

Yes. The FCC states that the ACP and its monthly discount on broadband ended on June 1, 2024, because Congress did not provide additional funding.[1]

The FCC also warns that some provider websites still advertise ACP and even collect personal information from people trying to enroll.[1] If any site or caller asks for your Social Security number, bank, or card details to "sign you up for ACP," stop. There is nothing to sign up for.

What low income internet programs still exist?

Three kinds of help remain, and they stack.

HelpWho qualifiesWhat you get (as of October 9, 2026)
Lifeline (federal)Income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or participation in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension[2]Up to $9.25 off per month; up to $34.25 on Tribal lands; one per household[2]
Provider low-cost plansUsually the same programs (SNAP, Medicaid, school lunch, housing assistance) or an income testXfinity Internet Essentials from $14.95/mo[3]; Access from AT&T at a price set by address[4]; Spectrum Internet Assist (price to confirm)[5]; Verizon Forward as low as $20/mo with conditions[6]
Prepaid plansAnyone; no credit checkXfinity NOW from $30/mo with taxes and fees included[7]

Why this matters: our Census data (ACS 2020-2024) shows 6.5% of U.S. households have no internet subscription of any kind, and in 178 counties the figure is 20% or higher. Those are exactly the households these programs were built for, and most have never applied.

How does Lifeline work?

Lifeline is the long-running federal program, available in every state.[2] It takes up to $9.25 off your monthly phone or internet bill, and the discount is applied by a participating company, not sent to you as a check.

Steps, as described by the program's administrator:[8]

  1. Apply through the national verifier (online or by mail). If you live in Texas or Oregon, you apply through your state's own website instead.
  2. Once approved, contact a participating phone or internet company and ask them to apply the Lifeline benefit.
  3. The discount appears on your bill.

Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household, so choose whether it goes on the phone or the home internet.[2]

Which providers have low-cost plans, and what do they cost?

  • Xfinity Internet Essentials: $14.95 per month for up to 75 Mbps, or $29.95 per month for up to 100 Mbps. You can qualify through programs including the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, and SNAP. You must not have had Xfinity Internet in the last 90 days and must not owe Comcast a balance under a year old. Enrolled customers can also buy a laptop for $149.99.[3]
  • Access from AT&T: for households in a qualifying government assistance program or with income below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. AT&T does not publish one price; the monthly price and speed depend on what is available at your address.[4]
  • Spectrum Internet Assist: launched for families in the National School Lunch Program and seniors 65 and older on SSI.[5] We could not confirm the current price from Spectrum's site at publication, so ask for it directly.
  • Verizon Forward: home internet as low as $20 per month for eligible customers. The $20 price on 5G Home requires combining it with a postpaid Verizon mobile plan; on Fios, a 300 Mbps plan is $20 per month for customers who qualify for both Verizon Forward and Lifeline, with a $99 setup charge.[6]

Each of these is available only where that company's network reaches your home, which is why the first step is always an address check.

Is there free internet for low income families?

Not from the federal government, and not from the big providers on an ongoing basis. "Free government internet" searches lead mostly to outdated ACP pages or to sites harvesting personal data. The real floor today is roughly $15 a month through Xfinity Internet Essentials for qualifying households, lower if Lifeline is applied on top.[3][2]

What to do next

  • Check whether anyone in your home receives SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, housing assistance, or free school lunch. If yes, you likely qualify for Lifeline and at least one provider plan.
  • Apply for Lifeline through the national verifier (or your state site in Texas or Oregon).[8]
  • Enter your ZIP code above or call us. We tell you which providers reach your address, which of their low-cost plans you may qualify for, and today's price. Tell the agent you have Lifeline approval so it is applied from the first bill.

Frequently asked questions

Is the ACP coming back?
As of October 9, 2026, the FCC's ACP page says the program ended for lack of funding and gives no restart date.[1] Plan around Lifeline and provider plans rather than waiting.

Can I get both Lifeline and a provider low-cost plan?
Generally yes. Lifeline is a federal discount applied by the provider, and the provider's plan is its own reduced price; many companies participate in both. Confirm on the call.

Which lifeline internet providers are near me?
It depends on your address. The national verifier approves you first; then any participating company that serves your home can apply the discount.[8] A comparison call can tell you which of them reach you.

What counts as low income for internet programs?
Lifeline uses 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; Access from AT&T uses 200%. Most provider plans also accept enrollment in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or housing assistance instead of an income test.[2][4]

What if I owe my old provider money?
Some programs exclude households with a recent unpaid balance; Xfinity Internet Essentials, for example, requires no Comcast debt under one year old.[3] A prepaid plan with no credit check is a workable bridge while you sort that out.[7]

Sources

  1. FCC: Affordable Connectivity Program. FCC, Affordable Connectivity Program, accessed October 9, 2026. ↩
  2. FCC: Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications. FCC, Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications, accessed October 9, 2026. ↩
  3. Xfinity Internet Essentials. Xfinity Internet Essentials, accessed October 9, 2026. Not available in all areas; restrictions apply. ↩
  4. Access from AT&T. Access from AT&T, accessed October 9, 2026. ↩
  5. Charter newsroom: Spectrum Internet Assist launch. Charter Communications newsroom, Spectrum Internet Assist launch announcement, accessed October 9, 2026. Launch-era pricing omitted because it may have changed. ↩
  6. Verizon Forward discount. Verizon Forward discount page, accessed October 9, 2026. Conditions apply; see page for eligibility and the $99 Fios setup charge. ↩
  7. Xfinity NOW Internet (prepaid). Xfinity NOW Internet, accessed October 9, 2026. Not available in all areas. ↩
  8. USAC: Lifeline Support. USAC, Lifeline Support, accessed October 9, 2026. ↩

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed; our data from FCC/Census as dated. FCC data as of December 30, 2025; Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024. Editorial policy