The Federal Landscape After ACP
When the Affordable Connectivity Program ran out of funding in June 2024, roughly 23 million households lost a $30 monthly broadband subsidy overnight. Congress has introduced several bills to revive it, but none have passed as of mid-2026, and there is no sign of a federal replacement arriving soon.
That leaves three layers of support for low-income households: the federal Lifeline program, state-run broadband assistance programs, and low-cost plans from internet providers themselves. The key in 2026 is knowing which layer applies to you, because they stack in different ways depending on where you live.
What Still Exists at the Federal Level
Lifeline: The Discount Most People Overlook
Lifeline is the one remaining federal program with direct consumer benefits. It provides a monthly reduction of about $9.25 off phone or internet service for households at or below 135% of the federal poverty line, or for households participating in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or the Veterans Pension. Tribal lands qualify for a larger benefit.
Many SNAP enrollees do not realize their EBT card automatically qualifies them for Lifeline. Data allowances vary by carrier and state, ranging from 4.5GB to 25GB per month depending on the provider you select. Lifeline does not fully replace what ACP offered, but it remains real and accessible, and provider availability has been shifting, so it is worth rechecking eligibility in 2026.
One important change to note: in late May 2026, the Justice Department released an opinion affecting the Lifeline program. Non-citizens are generally ineligible to enroll unless they have been in the United States for at least five years with qualified status, and the FCC must now impose additional verification safeguards beyond collecting a Social Security Number. For citizens and eligible residents, the program continues to operate as before.
USDA Rural Programs
For households in rural areas, the USDA ReConnect Program funds broadband expansion through grants and loans to providers. It is not a direct consumer discount, but it is why broadband is finally arriving in underserved communities, so it is worth checking whether your area has been covered by a recent ReConnect project.
State Programs: Where the Real Action Is
With no federal replacement, a handful of states built their own versions of ACP. Here is what is actually running as of 2026:
| Program | State | Monthly Benefit | Eligibility | Best For |
|---|
| LITAP | New Mexico | Up to $30 (up to $75 on Tribal lands) | Households earning $45,000 or less, or Lifeline-qualified | Direct ACP-style subsidy, stable state funding |
| LifeLine Home Broadband Pilot | California | Up to $30 | Income at or below 135% of FPL, or Medi-Cal, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, FPHA, Tribal assistance | Existing California LifeLine households |
| Enhanced State Lifeline | Oregon | Up to $24.25 off internet | Same rules as federal Lifeline | Bigger discount than the federal minimum |
| Affordable Broadband Act | New York | Capped low-cost plans | SNAP and Medicaid enrollees | No subsidy check, but mandated cheap plans |
| Connecticut | | Capped low-cost plans | Qualifying low-income households | Large providers required to offer affordable tiers |
California's program is the most established. The California Public Utilities Commission approved updates in October 2026 that more than double the wireless broadband data for participating households, and providers who also receive the federal $9.25 Lifeline benefit must offer an additional 4.5GB of monthly data, bringing qualifying households to 12.5GB per month with the option of up to 24.5GB depending on the provider.
New Mexico's LITAP launched on July 1, 2026, funded through a small surcharge on phone and internet bills rather than federal appropriation, which is part of why it is expected to be more stable long term.
Illinois, Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota are actively working on legislation but have not launched programs yet. If your state is not on the list, do not assume you have no options, because the carrier plans below apply in nearly every market.
Provider Plans: The Private-Sector Safety Net
Even without any government subsidy, most major providers offer low-cost plans for qualifying households. These can be combined with Lifeline in many cases for maximum savings.
| Provider | Plan | Monthly Price | Speed | Eligibility |
|---|
| Comcast Xfinity | Internet Essentials | $14.95 | Enough for 4K streaming and video calls | Income at or below 200% of federal poverty level, or participation in a federal benefits program; includes free gateway, unlimited data, low-cost computer option |
| AT&T | Access from AT&T | $30 | Up to 100 Mbps (fiber where available) | SNAP, SSI, or income at 200% of FPL; includes wireless Internet Air option |
| Spectrum | Internet Assist | $17.99 | 30 Mbps download | SSI, SNAP, or free/reduced school lunch; available in 41 states |
| Optimum | Advantage Internet | $14.99 | 30 Mbps | SNAP, Medicaid, SSI; available in NY, NJ, CT |
| Kinetic | Internet First | $9.95 | 25 Mbps | SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC; available in 18 states |
Comcast expanded Internet Essentials in late 2025 to allow qualification based on household income alone, meaning a family of four earning less than about $64,300 can now qualify even if they do not participate in any federal benefits program. The plan includes the Xfinity Gateway, unlimited data, digital skills training, and access to millions of Xfinity WiFi hotspots at no additional cost.
AT&T's Access program accepts applications based on household income or participation in qualifying government programs, and applicants can be approved before they even have AT&T service, then apply the discounted price to their existing line.
How to Find and Apply for Help
Start with the federal benefit. Apply for Lifeline at lifelinesupport.org. You will need proof of income or proof of participation in a qualifying program such as SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI. If you have an EBT card, that alone can qualify you.
Then check your state. Call your state public utility commission or visit its broadband office website. California residents should look up the California LifeLine program, New Mexico residents should look up LITAP, Oregon residents should check the enhanced state Lifeline, and New York residents should ask providers about the plans mandated under the Affordable Broadband Act.
Finally, contact providers directly. Comcast, AT&T, Spectrum, Optimum, and Kinetic all accept applications online or over the phone, and you can often check address-level availability before applying. If your income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline, mention that when you apply, because that income threshold now qualifies for several major programs on its own.
Sarah, a single mother in San Antonio, lost her ACP discount in 2024 and nearly canceled her home internet. She reapplied for Lifeline through her existing provider, which brought her bill down, and then discovered her household qualified for a low-cost provider plan on top of it. Her monthly internet cost dropped by more than half, and she kept the connection her daughter needed for online homework.
A Few Practical Notes
Do not assume you are ineligible because you were denied once. Program rules change, and the expansion of income-based eligibility at Comcast, AT&T, and several state programs means more households qualify in 2026 than did a year ago.
Keep your documentation handy. A recent W-2 or Social Security Statement of Benefits is typically accepted for income verification, and an approval letter from SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI works for benefit-based verification.
If you live on Tribal lands, check both Lifeline's enhanced Tribal benefit and New Mexico's LITAP Tribal provision, which can be worth up to $75 per month. These are the largest discounts available anywhere in the country.
Internet access in 2026 is not a luxury. It is the connection to job applications, school assignments, telehealth appointments, and the government portals used to manage benefits. The programs above exist to keep that connection within reach, and the application process takes minutes, not weeks. Start with Lifeline, check your state's broadband office, and then ask your provider what low-cost options they offer. One of those steps will almost certainly lower your bill.
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