A recent CNET survey found that 63% of Americans paid more for home internet last year than the previous year. In addition, the Affordable Connectivity Program came to a halt in 2024, leaving 23 million households without a suitable alternative to low-income internet accessibility. Many households were in rural areas with limited internet options, and nearly half were military families.
In the wake of the loss of the ACP, many internet service providers, including CenturyLink, Google Fiber and Quantum Fiber, returned ACP customers to standard rates.
How to apply for low-income internet now
On the other hand, some ISPs chose to include low-cost plans with slower speeds (think 50 megabits per second) for discounted rates and a handful of ISPs, like Kinetic by Windstream, are continuing the $30 monthly discount for eligible households.
Locating local internet providers
Although there is yet to be an affordable internet replacement program, you still have one or two options for a monthly discount on home internet. The federal Lifeline program doesn't offer the same substantial discount, but it can be helpful with affording home internet. It provides a $9.25-per-month broadband benefit for eligible households or up to $34.25 for homes on tribal lands.
In some cases, you may also qualify for service from nonprofit PCs for People, which offers a widespread, affordable internet program that starts at $15 per month for access to T-Mobile's 4G LTE network with the purchase of a mobile hotspot. You must provide documentation of enrollment in a government assistance program or proof of income eligibility. Additionally, T-Mobile's Project 10Million strives to get low-income students online with a free 100GB of hotspot internet per year.
Locating local internet providers
Your search for affordable internet in a post-ACP world starts with your existing ISP. Look for communications about options and then compare with offers from other providers that service your address. You can find what's available by entering your address on the Federal Communications Commission's broadband map.
Best low-income internet options by state
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