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On December 31, 2021, the $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) replaced the Emergency Broadband Assistance Program (EBBP), which has helped nearly 9 million households afford Internet access during the pandemic.
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Households that were enrolled in the EBBP automatically continued to receive their monthly benefit for a 60-day transition period starting January 1 this year. This transition period ended on March 1. If you haven’t switched to the ACP program yet, here are the steps to follow to stay enrolled.
What changes under the CPA and what do former EBBP enrollees need to do to receive services under the new CPA?
The fundamental policy changes between the two programs are as follows:
- Instead of your maximum monthly benefit being $50, it will now be $30 under CPA. Households located on tribal lands will continue to receive up to $75/month.
- Changes in household eligibility, including participating in more federal assistance programs and having a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (it was 135% for EBBP).
- Most EBBP households will not have to do anything to continue receiving the new $30 monthly benefit under the CPA. Those who were enrolled in EBBP through March 1 should have been contacted by the USAC program administrator or their internet service provider if additional information or steps were needed to retain benefits and given 30 days to respond. . Some households will need to requalify for ACP.
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If you are looking for more information or want to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, you will need to do the following:
1. Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print an application by mail.
2. Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill.
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