Rock Hill, SC-based Comporium has launched what it calls a Connected Internet Program under the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Households eligible for the ACP will get the service for free.
The Biden Administration has been pushing carriers to lower their broadband costs and/or increase broadband speeds with the goal of making internet service more affordable for “millions of American families” that qualify for ACP.
The program offers a discount of up to $30 per month towards any broadband service for eligible households. To be eligible, a household member must meet one of the following criteria: Participates in the FCC’s Lifeline program; has a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines; participates in a Lifeline-qualifying government program; received Pell Grant in the current award year; qualifies for free and reduced-price school lunch program or school breakfast program or participates in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC).
Comporium is one of numerous providers that have launched a service supporting 100 Mbps that is free to ACP households after they apply the $30 monthly subsidy.
Comporium’s program includes a 100 Mbps x 100 Mbps connection for customers who have fiber connections. Customers with cable modem connections can receive a 100 Mbps x 3 Mbps connection. Customers with either type of connection also receive unlimited data usage, free service installation and free equipment. For an additional monthly fee, customers that participate in Comporium’s Connected Internet Program have the option to upgrade to a higher speed tier for an additional monthly fee.
“The pandemic has made it crystal clear that access to affordable, reliable internet service is critical to every household,” said Matthew Dosch, Comporium executive vice president and chief operating officer, in a prepared statement. about the Comporium Connected Internet Program. “The public/private partnership created by the Affordable Connectivity Program assists low-income households with obtaining this important service. Leveraging this federal funding, Comporium’s Connected Internet Program ensures that eligible customers can afford the connections that they need for work, school, health care and more.”
