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: every current option, compared
| Option | Typical cost | Who qualifies | Catch to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifeline | $0 phone plan (benefit can apply to broadband) | 135% FPL or SNAP/Medicaid/SSI/FPHA/Vets Pension | One benefit per household; phone OR internet, not both |
| Verizon Forward | ~$20/mo (verify current) | Lifeline/SNAP/Medicaid enrollees | Requires Verizon home coverage; price after discounts |
| Xfinity Internet Essentials | ~$10–15/mo (verify current) | Any assistance-program household | Comcast footprint only; watch speed tier |
| Spectrum Internet Assist | ~$25/mo (verify current) | SSI, NSLP, some seniors | Narrower eligibility list than the others |
| State subsidies | Varies | Varies by state | A few states (e.g. CA, NY) run their own. See your state guide |
| School/library hotspot lending | $0 | Students, library cardholders | Loan periods; ask the district or branch directly |
Carrier prices change without notice. Treat the amounts as the ballpark we last verified (date above) and confirm on the provider's own site before signing up.
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.