ACP Ended — What Replaced It for Cheap Internet
Last verified:
The Affordable Connectivity Program — the $30/month internet discount that 23 million households used — stopped accepting applications in February 2024 and ended when funding ran out in mid-2024. Most confusion about "the free phone program ending" traces to this. Here's the dated record and every current alternative.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 2021 | ACP created by the Infrastructure Act, replacing the EBB |
| Feb 2024 | Enrollment freeze — no new applications accepted |
| May–Jun 2024 | Final benefit months as funding exhausted; program ends |
| 2024–2026 | Carriers migrate ACP lines to Lifeline or paid plans; refunding bills introduced but not passed (verify latest) |
What to use instead
Lifeline — still active, and its benefit can apply to broadband ( how it works). Carrier low-income plans — Verizon Forward, Xfinity Internet Essentials, Spectrum Internet Assist and similar programs offer $10–30/month internet with their own eligibility checks (typically SNAP/Medicaid/Lifeline enrollment). State programs — several states run their own subsidies; check your state guide.
If your bill jumped after ACP
Check whether your provider auto-migrated you to a paid plan in mid-2024 — many did. You can downgrade to their low-income plan or move the connection to a Lifeline carrier without losing your number.
See if you qualify for Lifeline →
Common questions
Is the ACP coming back?
Bills to refund the ACP have been introduced since 2024 but none has passed as of our last review (dated above). We update this page whenever there's a real legislative event.
I had ACP — do I still have Lifeline?
They were separate programs. Losing ACP did not remove Lifeline eligibility — if you qualified for ACP you very likely qualify for Lifeline. Apply through any Lifeline carrier.
What's the cheapest internet without ACP?
Stack what still exists: Lifeline's broadband option, carrier low-income plans (Verizon Forward, Xfinity Internet Essentials, Spectrum Internet Assist and similar), and any state subsidy your state runs. Details and current pricing on this page, dated.
Gov-Grants.org is an independent guide — not a carrier and not a government agency. We never charge fees, and every fact above links to its source with the date we checked it. Program details change; confirm on the official site before applying.