How to Get Internet Service at Reduced Cost

Internet access is essential for job searching, education, healthcare, and staying connected. Several programs help low-income households get online at reduced or no cost.

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

This federal program provides up to $30 per month discount on internet service (up to $75 on tribal lands). It also offers a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or computer. You may qualify if you participate in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or other programs, or have income below 200% of poverty.

Lifeline Program

Lifeline provides a $9.25 monthly discount on phone or internet service. Can be combined with ACP for deeper discounts. Apply through your service provider or at LifelineSupport.org.

Provider Low-Income Programs

• Internet Essentials (Comcast): Service for $9.95/month
• Spectrum Internet Assist: Low-cost option for eligible households
• AT&T Access: Affordable internet for qualifying families

Visit GetInternet.gov to find programs available in your area and check eligibility.

The Affordable Connectivity Program and Its Legacy

The Affordable Connectivity Program was the largest broadband affordability initiative in United States history, providing up to thirty dollars per month toward internet service for eligible low-income households. Although the ACP’s federal funding expired in mid-2024, its impact reshaped the broadband landscape. Many internet service providers that participated in the ACP have since created their own low-cost plans to retain the millions of customers they gained through the program. If you were previously enrolled in the ACP, contact your internet provider directly to ask about their current low-income offerings. Some providers automatically transitioned former ACP participants to discounted plans, while others require you to opt in. Additionally, several states have launched their own broadband subsidy programs to fill the gap left by the ACP, so check with your state’s broadband office for any available assistance.

Lifeline Program for Phone and Internet

The FCC’s Lifeline program provides a monthly discount of up to nine dollars and twenty-five cents on phone or internet service for qualifying low-income households. You qualify for Lifeline if your household income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or if you participate in certain government assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. To apply, you can visit the Universal Service Administrative Company’s website at lifelinesupport.org, contact a Lifeline provider in your area, or apply through your state’s Lifeline administrator. The application process requires documentation of your eligibility, such as a benefits award letter or proof of income. While nine dollars per month may not sound like much, many providers offer Lifeline-specific plans that bring the total cost of basic internet service down to just a few dollars per month.

Provider-Specific Low-Income Plans

Many major internet service providers offer their own affordable plans independent of government programs. Comcast’s Internet Essentials program provides internet service for around ten dollars per month to families who qualify for government assistance programs. AT&T offers Access plans starting at around five to ten dollars per month for low-income households. Spectrum’s Internet Assist program provides discounted service to recipients of SSI, SNAP, or Medicaid. T-Mobile and Verizon both offer affordable home internet through their fixed wireless networks, often at twenty-five to thirty dollars per month with no contracts or data caps. These plans may not offer the fastest speeds available, but they are generally fast enough for video calls, homework, job applications, and streaming. Contact your local internet providers directly and ask about their low-income or affordable access programs, as these offerings change frequently and new options may be available that are not widely advertised.

Free Internet Access Points

If home internet is not currently within your budget, there are still ways to stay connected. Public libraries offer free internet access and Wi-Fi, and many have extended their Wi-Fi signals to their parking lots so you can connect even when the building is closed. Community centers, churches, and nonprofit organizations often provide free computer and internet access during business hours. Many school districts now offer free Wi-Fi hotspot devices that students can check out and take home. Some cities have also built free public Wi-Fi networks in downtown areas, parks, and public housing communities. Programs like PCs for People and EveryoneOn not only help connect low-income families to affordable internet but also provide refurbished computers at reduced prices, ensuring you have both the device and the connection you need to participate in the digital economy.

The Affordable Connectivity Program and Its Legacy

The Affordable Connectivity Program was the largest broadband affordability initiative in United States history, providing up to thirty dollars per month toward internet service for eligible low-income households. Although the ACP’s federal funding expired in mid-2024, its impact reshaped the broadband landscape. Many internet service providers that participated in the ACP have since created their own low-cost plans to retain the millions of customers they gained through the program. If you were previously enrolled in the ACP, contact your internet provider directly to ask about their current low-income offerings. Some providers automatically transitioned former ACP participants to discounted plans, while others require you to opt in. Additionally, several states have launched their own broadband subsidy programs to fill the gap left by the ACP, so check with your state’s broadband office for any available assistance.

Lifeline Program for Phone and Internet

The FCC’s Lifeline program provides a monthly discount of up to nine dollars and twenty-five cents on phone or internet service for qualifying low-income households. You qualify for Lifeline if your household income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or if you participate in certain government assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. To apply, you can visit the Universal Service Administrative Company’s website at lifelinesupport.org, contact a Lifeline provider in your area, or apply through your state’s Lifeline administrator. The application process requires documentation of your eligibility, such as a benefits award letter or proof of income. While nine dollars per month may not sound like much, many providers offer Lifeline-specific plans that bring the total cost of basic internet service down to just a few dollars per month.

Provider-Specific Low-Income Plans

Many major internet service providers offer their own affordable plans independent of government programs. Comcast’s Internet Essentials program provides internet service for around ten dollars per month to families who qualify for government assistance programs. AT&T offers Access plans starting at around five to ten dollars per month for low-income households. Spectrum’s Internet Assist program provides discounted service to recipients of SSI, SNAP, or Medicaid. T-Mobile and Verizon both offer affordable home internet through their fixed wireless networks, often at twenty-five to thirty dollars per month with no contracts or data caps. These plans may not offer the fastest speeds available, but they are generally fast enough for video calls, homework, job applications, and streaming. Contact your local internet providers directly and ask about their low-income or affordable access programs, as these offerings change frequently and new options may be available that are not widely advertised.

Free Internet Access Points

If home internet is not currently within your budget, there are still ways to stay connected. Public libraries offer free internet access and Wi-Fi, and many have extended their Wi-Fi signals to their parking lots so you can connect even when the building is closed. Community centers, churches, and nonprofit organizations often provide free computer and internet access during business hours. Many school districts now offer free Wi-Fi hotspot devices that students can check out and take home. Some cities have also built free public Wi-Fi networks in downtown areas, parks, and public housing communities. Programs like PCs for People and EveryoneOn not only help connect low-income families to affordable internet but also provide refurbished computers at reduced prices, ensuring you have both the device and the connection you need to participate in the digital economy.