President Biden praised 14 service providers that are offering Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) replacement programs on Friday, the same day that the ACP program came to an end. Telecompetitor delved into the details on those offerings and compiled them into the table below.
The ACP paid up to $30 a month toward the cost of internet service for low-income households ($75 for tribal households). The program officially ended Friday because it ran out of funding.
“President Biden remains committed to doing everything possible to ensure families continue to access affordable high-speed internet,” said a White House press release.
“Today, the White House highlights voluntary commitments to customers from over a dozen internet service providers to offer plans at $30 or less to low-income households through 2024, so that families across America can continue accessing low-cost internet.”
Providers on the list include major providers AT&T, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Verizon and others, as well as smaller more rural providers such as Allo, IdeaTek, MLGC, and Vermont Telephone Company.
The press release also noted that the 14 providers collectively cover as many as 10 million ACP households. Biden will continue calling on Congress to extend funding for the ACP, according to the release.
Here’s a summary of ACP replacement offerings from providers on Friday’s lists on whose websites Telecompetitor was able to find price and speed details.
In addition to the programs listed above, some other providers also offer ACP replacement offerings. Among those that Telecompetitor has covered are Burlington Telecom, UScellular, TDS and T-Mobile.
It’s worth noting that low-income services priced at $30 a month or less were essentially free while the ACP program was in effect because the $30 per month benefit covered the cost. Today’s $30 monthly programs cost the full $30, although qualified households may be able to get about $10 off through the USF Lifeline low-income program administered by the FCC.
