The expected ending of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is likely to leave a significant portion of the almost 23 million people who rely on it for broadband connectivity looking for alternatives. Among telecommunications companies committed to offering such alternatives are Cox Communications and UScellular.
UScellular said that it will provide current ACP customers a $12 credit monthly for a year. The discount can be combined with Lifeline, military and partner or employee discounts.
The company advised ACP participants to visit their local UScellular store to see if other service options might be the best fit for them. The company pointed to unlimited mobile plans starting at $29.99 per month and Home Internet plans that start at $34.99 when combined with a mobile line.
Cox Options
In an announcement this week, Cox pointed to plans and initiatives available to qualifying low-income households. They are:
Connect2Compete: A $9.95 per month service for families with a child in grades K to 12 in the home and who participate in the National School Lunch Program or other select federal programs such as SNAP.
ConnectAssist Internet Plan: A $30 per month service for low-income households that participate in select government programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, Public Housing and Pell Grants. This program is available to all customers currently receiving the ACP benefit, as well as those who meet the program’s requirements.
Cox Mobile: Plans start at $15 per gigabit per line, with extra savings when mobile and Internet services are combined.
Cox requires no credit checks, deposits or Wi-Fi modem rental fees. Additionally, the Cox Digital Academy can provide access to discounted personal computers.
Other Providers
Other service providers also are preparing for the end of ACP.
Comcast introduced a range of NOW prepaid services last week. The company positioned the new branded suite — NOW Internet, NOW Mobile, NOW TV and NOW WiFi Pass — as an alternative to ACP.
TDS, Verizon and T-Mobile also have detailed options for their subscribers who had been ACP participants.
ACP is providing a reduced subsidy of $14 to consumers ($35 for households on tribal lands) in May.
