32.008: Affordable Connectivity Program
Alternate Name: Affordable Connectivity Program
Overview
Program Number
32.008
Status
Active
Last Modified
April 29, 2022
Date Posted
April 29, 2022
Objective
On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Consolidated Appropriations Act) was signed into law. Among other actions intended to provide relief during the pandemic, the Consolidated Appropriations Act established an Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund of $3.2 billion in the Treasury of the United States for the fiscal year 2021. The Act directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) to use that fund to establish an Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program), under which eligible low-income households may receive a discount off the cost of broadband service and certain connected devices during an emergency period relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and participating providers can receive a reimbursement for such discounts. The Commission voted to adopt the EBB Program rules, and pursuant to statutory requirements, the final order was adopted on February 25, 2021. The EBB Program launched on May 12, 2021. On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Infrastructure Act) was signed into law. Pursuant to the Infrastructure Act, the Affordable Connectivity Program builds on the EBB Program by using new funding to provide discounted broadband service and connected devices to low-income households. The Infrastructure Act leaves the EBB Program’s basic framework in place, but it does make changes to the benefit amount, rules regarding plan and subscriber eligibility, and providers’ public promotion obligations, among other changes, and appropriates an additional $14.2 billion to implement those changes. The Commission adopted the Affordable Connectivity Program rules on January 14, 2022.
Type of Assistance
C - Direct Payments for Specified Use
Applicant Eligibility
Provider Eligibility: In the Infrastructure Act, a “participating provider” for the Affordable Connectivity Program shall be a broadband service provider that is either designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) or seeks approval from the Commission for participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program. ETCs and non-ETCs must establish they provide broadband service to participate in the program. Household Eligibility: Support is available only for one line per household; applicants are eligible if at least one member of the household: Income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines; Meets the qualifications for participation in the Lifeline program, that is, if they participate in one of the following federal assistance programs: Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit; or one of the following Tribal-specific federal assistance programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs general assistance, Tribally-administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; Receives benefits in the current school year under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the school year immediately preceding the application for the Affordable Connectivity Program; participates in the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC); Has received a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in the current award year; or Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program, subject to approval by the Commission.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Not Applicable
Additional Information
Grant Awards
Affordable Connectivity Program direct grants
Grant Opportunities