ACP Program Is Gone: What Happened and Your Next Options

The Affordable Connectivity Program is gone. It stopped providing discounts on June 1, 2024, after federal funding ran out, and it has not reopened for applications. A website or representative promising to enroll you in a new ACP benefit today is using outdated information or may be attempting to collect your personal data.

The end of ACP did not end every form of assistance. Lifeline remains active, and several internet companies maintain low-income plans. These options have different eligibility rules, benefits, and applications.

Is the ACP Program Still Available in 2026?

No. The FCC’s current ACP guidance says the program ended because Congress did not provide additional funding. Households stopped receiving the discount effective June 1, 2024.

There is no active federal ACP application or enrollment transfer in 2026. Legislative proposals, archived pages, and old advertisements do not mean it has restarted. A restart would require official action announced by the FCC and USAC.

When and Why Did ACP End?

Congress created ACP through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and provided $14.2 billion. Enrollment grew to more than 23 million households, but the program lacked permanent funding.

When the remaining funds became insufficient, the FCC began a formal wind-down rather than approving more households without money to reimburse providers. The key dates were:

Date	What happened
February 7, 2024	Last day for new applications and enrollments
February 8, 2024	ACP enrollment freeze took effect
April 2024	Last fully funded benefit month
May 2024	Providers could receive a reduced partial benefit
June 1, 2024	ACP discounts ended

USAC recorded 23,269,550 enrolled households when the freeze began. The program ended because its appropriation was exhausted—not because every participating household became ineligible or failed to recertify.

What Benefits Did ACP Previously Provide?

Before it ended, ACP offered eligible households:

• Up to $30 per month toward qualifying broadband service
• Up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands
• A one-time discount of up to $100 toward an eligible laptop, desktop, or tablet from a participating provider

The device benefit required a household contribution of more than $10 and less than $50. It was not a free-phone program, and only one provider could receive the household’s discount.

These are historical benefits. Providers may still offer discounted service or equipment, but those offers are not ACP.

ACP vs Lifeline: What Is the Difference Now?

ACP and Lifeline were separate federal programs. Some households used both benefits before ACP ended, which is why older articles and advertisements often combine them. Only Lifeline remains active.

Feature	ACP	Lifeline
Current status	Ended June 1, 2024	Active
Main purpose	Broadband affordability	Phone, internet, or bundled-service affordability
Standard benefit	Formerly up to $30/month	Up to $9.25/month, depending on service
Tribal benefit	Formerly up to $75/month	Up to $34.25/month on qualifying Tribal lands
Income limit	Formerly 200% of poverty guidelines	135% of poverty guidelines
Device benefit	Former one-time computer/tablet discount	No guaranteed federal device benefit
Household rule	One benefit per household	One benefit per household

Lifeline primarily discounts service. A participating wireless company may add a free or discounted phone as its own promotion, but Lifeline approval does not guarantee a particular smartphone. Our updated free 5G government phone guide explains this distinction.

Who Qualifies for Lifeline in 2026?

You may qualify if your gross household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For the 48 contiguous states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories, the current limits are:

Household size	Maximum annual income
1 person	$21,546
2 people	$29,214
3 people	$36,882
4 people	$44,550
Each additional person	Add $7,668

Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits. A household can also qualify if the applicant, a dependent, or a child participates in an approved program such as:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit
• Certain Tribal assistance programs

Medicaid recipients can follow our free phone with Medicaid guide. Only one Lifeline benefit is permitted per household, even if several household members qualify.

How to Apply for Lifeline After ACP

1. Visit the official Lifeline Support website and review the current eligibility rules.
2. Apply through the National Verifier, by mail, or with help from a participating company. Oregon and Texas use their state application systems.
3. Provide matching identity, address, income, or program-participation documents when automated records cannot verify you.
4. After approval, use the official Companies Near Me tool to find providers serving your ZIP code.
5. Compare coverage, monthly data, hotspot access, device cost, shipping, and support before enrolling.

Approval does not automatically activate service. You must select a participating provider and ask it to apply your Lifeline benefit. You may need to recertify each year and use no-cost service at least once every 30 days to keep it active. Provider offers vary by state; our TAG Mobile Lifeline guide shows how one carrier’s phone availability can depend on location and inventory.

Affordable Internet Options After ACP

Lifeline is smaller than the former ACP discount, so compare it with provider-run low-income programs. These are private offers, not a replacement federal ACP benefit, and availability depends on your address.

Program	Current advertised option	Common eligibility route
Xfinity Internet Essentials	From $14.95/month for up to 75 Mbps	Income or programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance, or school lunch
Spectrum Internet Assist	$25/month for 50 Mbps; some eligible customers may receive a $15 rate	NSLP, Community Eligibility Provision, SSI, and additional New York criteria
Verizon Forward	Discount of up to $30/month; qualifying service may start around $20	Lifeline, SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, SSI, qualifying income, and other listed programs

Prices, speeds, equipment charges, and rules can change. Check Internet Essentials, Spectrum Internet Assist, and Verizon Forward before applying.

You should also ask local cable, fiber, fixed-wireless, telephone, and municipal providers whether they offer an income-based plan. Schools, libraries, housing agencies, Tribal organizations, and state broadband offices may know about local programs that do not appear in national advertising.

What to Do If Your Bill Increased After ACP

First, inspect the current bill and compare it with the provider’s ACP wind-down notices. Determine whether you remained on the same plan at full price, moved to another plan, or received a temporary company credit that later expired.

Ask the provider about its cheapest plan, income-qualified discount, retention offer, prepaid option, and equipment fees. Remove optional services only after checking for cancellation charges.

If the price is unaffordable, compare providers before disconnecting. Check installation, equipment, taxes, data limits, and when introductory pricing expires. Keep the old connection until replacement service is scheduled when access is essential.

Avoid Fake ACP Applications and Scams

The FCC has warned that some websites continue advertising ACP and collecting information even though the program ended. Treat any current “ACP enrollment” form as suspicious.

• Do not pay an application, reservation, or approval fee for ACP.
• Do not send a Social Security number, benefit letter, or ID through social-media messages.
• Do not trust promises of instant ACP approval, a free tablet, or a large monthly discount.
• Check the exact web address before entering personal information.
• Apply for Lifeline only through Lifeline Support or a verified participating provider.

An old page may be outdated rather than intentionally fraudulent, but it is still unsafe to submit sensitive information through it. If a provider advertises ACP today, contact the company through the phone number on its main official website and ask what program actually funds the offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for ACP in 2026?
No. ACP is not accepting applications or providing discounts. Use official FCC and USAC pages to confirm any future change.

Will ACP come back?
It could return only if the federal government authorizes and funds it or creates a replacement. As of this review, no official enrollment has reopened.

Did Lifeline end with ACP?
No. Lifeline is active and offers eligible households a service discount of up to $9.25 per month, or up to $34.25 on qualifying Tribal lands.

Can I receive both Lifeline and a provider’s low-income discount?
Sometimes. Combination rules differ by company and plan. Ask the provider to calculate the final price before enrolling.

Can I still get a free government phone?
Some Lifeline providers offer a phone promotion, but the federal benefit does not guarantee a free device, brand, or model. Availability depends on the provider, state, and inventory.

What if a website says ACP is still active?
Do not submit information. Verify the claim on FCC.gov or LifelineSupport.org and report suspicious advertising to the FCC if necessary.

Final Verdict

ACP ended on June 1, 2024, and no legitimate provider can enroll a household in a new ACP benefit today. The most important next step is to separate expired ACP information from active assistance.

Check Lifeline eligibility, compare participating providers, and investigate legitimate company-run low-income internet plans available at your address. Read every offer carefully, because a discounted plan is not automatically ACP and a Lifeline approval does not guarantee free internet, a tablet, or a premium phone.