Everyone deserves to have access to the internet. In 2021, it was reported that 43% of adults with lower incomes don’t have home broadband services. Without the internet, people are at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing news and information, doing schoolwork, looking for jobs and so much more. All West cares about all our customers, which is why we participate in two programs to help provide reliable internet to low-income households: the Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program designed to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices. This program replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit program that was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. If your household meets the eligibility requirements, you can receive up to a $30/month discount on your internet services. If your household is on qualifying tribal lands, you can receive up to a $75/month discount. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of $100 for a laptop, tablet or desktop computer (with a co-payment of less than $50 but more than $10).
Applying for the ACP is easy. First, you need to find out if you and your household qualify. There are a few ways that your household can qualify for the ACP. It is based on household income, participation in certain government assistance programs, and if you already receive a Lifeline benefit. Learn more about the qualification guidelines on the ACP website. You can apply on acpbenefit.org or mail in an application. You must both apply for the program and contact All West, a participating provider, to select a service plan and have the discount applied.
Lifeline is an FCC program that helps make telephone or internet services more affordable for low-income subscribers. This program provides a partial discount of $9.95 monthly off your local phone or broadband service. Lifeline is supported by the Federal Universal Service Fund, which helps ensure that subscribers can communities to find jobs and access health care services. Internet access is vital to give people access to jobs, healthcare and educational resources, especially when living in rural areas.
To qualify for the Lifeline program, you must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in certain federal assistance programs. These programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or certain Tribal Programs. Lifeline’s application can be found at lifelinesupport.org. After qualifying, reach out to All West to apply the benefit to your services.
Do you know who could benefit from these programs? Pass the word along! We care about and consider the communities we serve and want everyone to be able to get reliable, affordable internet and phone services. If you qualify for both the ACP and Lifeline, you can apply both programs to your services to get an even greater discount. We participate in these programs because we know it’s hard to be on a fixed income or to be a low-income household.
Communities should be able to connect to what matters most. By offering these programs to our customers, All West can provide affordable internet for those in need. If you have any questions about the Affordable Connectivity Program, Lifeline or All West’s services, give us a call at 866.255.9378 or email help@allwest.com to speak with our customer care team.