Do you pay for Wi-Fi access? Here’s how you can save $30 based on income or aid program

Whether you continue to work or study from home, or log online to stream a TV show, does your household rely on Wi-Fi? Do you pay for Wi-Fi and have a device that can access the internet?

Do you want to save up to $30 per month on internet services? The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) might interest you.

The program offers households:

• up to $30/month discount on internet service

• up to a $75/month discount if household is on qualifying Tribal lands

• a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)

It replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program and aims to help low-income households pay for internet services and connected devices.

Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household.

How do you know if you are eligible?

Two main things are considered for an ACP discount: household status and type of service.

For households, there are three ways they can qualify: household income, if a child or dependent participates in certain government assistance programs (such as SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, or others), or if you, your child or dependent already receives a Lifeline benefit.

For income, “you can get ACP if your income is 200% or less than the 2021 Federal Poverty Guidelines,” based on household size and state. This means if you make less than the listed amount — depending on the number of people — you and/or your household could qualify.

For California, the household income tiers are:

• 1 person, $25,760 yearly income

• 2 people, $34,840 yearly income

• 3 people, $43,920 yearly income

• 4 people, $53,000 yearly income

For type of service, you must check online if your service provider is listed in California and what services are eligible.

For example, Comcast (Xfinity) services are eligible for discount for a fixed service, meaning your home’s Wi-Fi bill. Yet Verizon is listed as “Fixed/Mobile,” meaning you could apply for an ACP discount for your home or mobile service.

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How to apply

You can apply online, through mail or by contacting your service provider.

The online application and further details can be found on the application site along with the mail-in instructions.

There is no deadline to apply; those eligible can apply anytime since the ACP is a permanent program under the FCC’s administration, a customer service representative said.

Information: acpbenefit.org

[email protected] or (877) 384-2575.

Record reporter Laura Diaz covers social justice and societal issues. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @laurasdiaz_. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Do you pay for Wi-Fi access? Here’s how you can save $30 based on income