Low Income Internet Programs — Every Discount Available in 2026
The ACP ended in 2024. Here's what replaced it: a complete guide to every federal Lifeline benefit, every provider low-income program, state assistance, and qualifying criteria — all in one place. Many households can get internet for under $10/month by stacking programs.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Ended April 23, 2024
Congress did not renew ACP funding. The $30/month benefit (and $75/month for Tribal lands) is no longer available. Approximately 23 million households lost this benefit. However, better alternatives exist for many qualifying families — some costing less than ACP ever did.
Federal Internet Assistance Programs
Funded and administered by the FCC. Available to qualifying households nationwide, regardless of which provider you use.
FCC Lifeline Program
Federal ProgramIncome ≤135% Federal Poverty Level, or participation in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing, Veterans Pension/Survivors Benefit
Maximum 1 benefit per household. Available nationwide through participating carriers. Enhanced benefit ($25/mo) available for Tribal lands residents.
Enhanced Lifeline (Tribal Lands)
Federal Program – TribalSame as Lifeline, but must reside on qualifying Tribal lands. Additional eligibility: Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance, Tribally Administered TANF, Head Start (income-based)
Higher benefit amount replaces standard $9.25 for Tribal land residents. Some states supplement further.
ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program)
Ended April 2024Previously: income ≤200% FPL or SNAP/Medicaid participation
The ACP ended April 23, 2024 due to Congress not renewing funding. It provided $30/mo off ($75/mo on Tribal lands). The best current alternatives are Lifeline + provider-specific programs below. Several providers maintained reduced rates post-ACP for previous enrollees.
How to Apply for Lifeline — Step by Step
The application takes about 10 minutes. Approval is typically within 1–3 business days for program-based enrollment.
Check your eligibility
You qualify if your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (approximately $19,683/year for a family of 4 in 2026), OR if anyone in your household participates in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing / Section 8, Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or Tribal programs.
Gather documentation
Depending on your qualifying reason: proof of income (tax returns, pay stubs, benefits letter) or proof of program participation (SNAP letter, Medicaid card, SSI award letter). You'll need your name, address, and date of birth.
Apply at lifelinesupport.org
Go to lifelinesupport.org or click "Get Started with Lifeline." Complete the National Verifier application online. Approval typically takes 1–3 business days for program-based eligibility, or 7–10 days for income-based verification.
Choose a participating provider
Once approved, select a Lifeline-participating internet provider in your area. Many major ISPs accept Lifeline, including Xfinity, Spectrum, AT&T, Cox, and regional carriers. Use your benefit code when signing up.
Re-certify annually
You must re-certify your eligibility once per year to keep your Lifeline benefit. USAC (the program administrator) will send a notice. Missing re-certification removes your benefit — set a calendar reminder for your anniversary date.
Free · No obligation · Available 24/7
Provider Low-Income Internet Programs
Seven major ISPs maintain income-based plans at dramatically below-market prices. Several can be stacked with Lifeline for additional savings. Availability depends on which providers serve your address.
| Program | Price | Speed | Who Qualifies | Lifeline Stackable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Internet Essentials Also stackable with Lifeline for additional discou… | $9.95/mo | 50 Mbps | K–12 student qualifying for Free/Reduced Lunch Program; 62+ (long-time Xfinity customer); Habitat fo… | Yes |
| AT&T Access Fiber version (100 Mbps) available where AT&T Fibe… | $30/mo | 10–100 Mbps (fiber) | Household participates in SNAP or SSI. Income verification required. | — |
| Spectrum Internet Assist Stackable with Lifeline program. Free modem includ… | $19.99/mo | 30 Mbps | K–12 student enrolled in National School Lunch Program (NSLP) OR household member 65+ receiving SSI | Yes |
| Cox Connect2Compete Cox service areas only. Includes free modem. One o… | $9.95/mo | 100 Mbps | K–12 student receiving free/reduced-price school lunch AND household has no other Cox Internet subsc… | Yes |
| T-Mobile Project 10Million Provides free hotspot device + 100GB annual data f… | Free (5 years) | Up to 100 Mbps | K–12 students qualifying for NSLP. Applied through school districts. Households must not already hav… | — |
| Mediacom Connect2Compete Mediacom footprint concentrated in Midwest and Sou… | $9.95/mo | 100 Mbps | K–12 student receiving free/reduced-price school meals. Mediacom service areas only. | — |
Xfinity Internet Essentials
K–12 student qualifying for Free/Reduced Lunch Program; 62+ (long-time Xfinity customer); Habitat for Humanity resident; veterans with qualifying income; foster youth aging out of care
Also stackable with Lifeline for additional discount. Free WiFi equipment included. Upgrade available at $29.95/mo for 100 Mbps.
Check Xfinity Availability →AT&T Access
Household participates in SNAP or SSI. Income verification required.
Fiber version (100 Mbps) available where AT&T Fiber is deployed. DSL version provides 10+ Mbps. Includes free modem.
Check AT&T Availability →Spectrum Internet Assist
K–12 student enrolled in National School Lunch Program (NSLP) OR household member 65+ receiving SSI
Stackable with Lifeline program. Free modem included. Available in Spectrum service areas only.
Check Spectrum Availability →Cox Connect2Compete
K–12 student receiving free/reduced-price school lunch AND household has no other Cox Internet subscription in past 90 days
Cox service areas only. Includes free modem. One of the best value income-based programs for families with school-age children.
Check Cox Availability →T-Mobile Project 10Million
K–12 students qualifying for NSLP. Applied through school districts. Households must not already have broadband.
Provides free hotspot device + 100GB annual data for 5 years. Participating school districts apply on behalf of families.
Check T-Mobile Availability →Mediacom Connect2Compete
K–12 student receiving free/reduced-price school meals. Mediacom service areas only.
Mediacom footprint concentrated in Midwest and Southeast rural areas where few alternatives exist.
Get ConnectedState-Level Internet Assistance Programs
Many states have additional programs layered on top of federal Lifeline. These are the largest:
Additional $10–$20/mo off on top of federal Lifeline for landline and broadband. Administered by CPUC. Apply at cpuc.ca.gov/lifeline
$1 billion statewide broadband expansion. Plus NY State Supplement to Lifeline. Check eligibility at dos.ny.gov/connectall
$1.5B in BEAD funding. Focus on unserved rural areas. Residential programs vary by provider. puc.texas.gov/lifeline
State supplements federal programs. Income-based broadband assistance through IDES. illinois.gov/services/broadband
$279M in BEAD allocation. Targeted deployment plus income-based program support. pa.gov/broadband
BEAD implementation underway. Lifeline available statewide. floridajobs.org/broadband
$1.56B in federal broadband funding. MHIO helps low-income residents navigate available programs. michigan.gov/mhio
$1.5B+ BEAD allocation. NC HOME program for low-income housing connectivity. ncbroadband.gov
All 50 states received BEAD allocations in 2025. Contact your state broadband office for deployment timelines in your area.
The $42.5 Billion BEAD Program: What It Means for You
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is the largest federal broadband investment in US history. Congress allocated $42.5 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Every state received a BEAD allocation based on the number of unserved locations (below 25/3 Mbps) and underserved locations (below 100/20 Mbps).
What this means for low-income households in underserved areas: ISPs deploying BEAD infrastructure are required to offer low-cost plans to qualifying households. States may require additional affordability conditions as part of BEAD grant agreements. If you're in a rural or tribal area with poor connectivity, check your state broadband office's BEAD challenge maps to see if your location is targeted.
Tip: If you live in an area that is "unserved" (below 25/3 Mbps) or "underserved" (below 100/20 Mbps) per FCC data and your current plan is below those thresholds, you are likely in a BEAD-targeted area. Run our speed test to get your documented speed, then contact us — we can help you file a challenge to ensure your location is properly counted in BEAD mapping.
Not Sure Which Program You Qualify For?
We'll help you figure out which federal, state, and provider programs apply to your household — and help you apply. It's free, takes about 5 minutes, and there's no obligation.
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