Where the Federal Help Stands
The landscape shifted after the Affordable Connectivity Program ran out of funding in mid-2024. That program had been a lifeline for roughly 23 million households, offering up to $30 per month off broadband bills. When it ended, many families suddenly faced full-price internet or went offline entirely.
What remains is the Lifeline program, administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company under the FCC. Lifeline is older, smaller, and stricter than the ACP, but it is still active and still helpful. Eligible households can receive a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on phone or internet service, with the amount rising to $34.25 per month for residents on qualifying Tribal lands. The discount applies to either a landline, a wireless plan, or home broadband. You cannot stack it across multiple services, and the service must be used at least once every 30 days to keep the benefit active.
To qualify, your household income must be at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or you must already participate in a qualifying program like SNAP, Medicaid, or Supplemental Security Income. The application runs through the National Verifier system, which can check your eligibility automatically in most cases. Oregon and Texas have their own state-specific processes, so residents there should contact their state utility commission directly.
What the States Are Doing Now
Since the ACP ended, states have stepped in with their own patchwork of solutions. This is where the help gets more interesting, because programs vary widely depending on where you live.
California has been especially active. In 2026, the California Public Utilities Commission approved close to $32 million in grants through the California Advanced Services Fund, funding fiber projects in unserved rural areas, no-cost broadband for residents of publicly supported housing, and digital literacy training for thousands of participants. The state's Broadband for All initiative has a particular focus on seniors, students, farmworkers, and low-income households.
New Mexico offers another model. Its Office of Broadband Access and Expansion has proposed a state-run broadband affordability program to replace the expired federal subsidy, with a target launch in 2027. The plan is part of a three-year statewide strategy aiming for universal access by 2029, and the state has already enrolled thousands of student households through its Student Connect Program.
In Colorado, the city of Longmont took a different route. After the ACP collapsed, the municipal provider NextLight created its own Internet Assistance Program for qualifying lower-income residents, and the network went on to rank as the country's most recommended ISP in PCMag's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards. This "Colorado Model" of locally driven broadband has become a national talking point.
Private Programs That Fill the Gap
Between the federal Lifeline benefit and state initiatives sits a layer of low-cost private programs. They are not government assistance in the strict sense, but they are often the fastest way to get connected, and many were designed specifically to absorb former ACP recipients.
Comcast's Internet Essentials has been around since 2011 and keeps expanding. In late 2025, the company widened eligibility so households can now qualify based on income alone, meaning a family of four earning under $64,300 can get service for $14.95 per month, which includes unlimited data, the Xfinity Gateway, access to Xfinity WiFi hotspots, and digital skills training. A low-cost computer is available for $149.95 for those who need hardware too.
Other major providers run similar offerings. Spectrum has its Internet Assist plan, and several wireless carriers integrate the Lifeline discount into their prepaid plans. Some Lifeline-authorized providers, like Gen Mobile, apply the full $9.25 discount to a standard plan, which can effectively bring the monthly cost to zero for a basic talk, text, and data package. Keep in mind that device offers are subject to availability and provider discretion.
| Program | Type | Monthly Cost | Who Qualifies | Best For | Key Limits |
|---|
| Lifeline | Federal subsidy | Up to $9.25 off ($34.25 on Tribal lands) | Income at/below 135% of poverty guidelines, or SNAP/Medicaid/SSI recipients | Anyone needing ongoing bill relief | One service per household; usage required every 30 days |
| Internet Essentials | Private low-cost plan | $14.95/month | Households at or below 200% of federal poverty level | Families needing unlimited data and WiFi hotspots | Comcast service area only |
| State broadband programs (CA, NM, CO examples) | State grants and subsidies | Varies by state | Varies; often income-based or housing-based | Residents of states with active programs | Availability depends on location and funding |
| Lifeline-integrated wireless plans | Carrier plan + subsidy | $0-$10/month after discount | Same as Lifeline eligibility | Light users needing talk, text, and data | Basic data allowances; device not guaranteed |
A Practical Path to Lower Bills
Start with Lifeline. Go to lifelinesupport.org and check your eligibility through the National Verifier. Have your income documents or benefit award letters ready. Most people find out within minutes whether they qualify, and the site includes a tool to list providers serving your ZIP code.
Next, look at your state. Search for your state public utility commission's broadband page and ask specifically about programs replacing the ACP. States like California, New Mexico, and Colorado have dedicated offices tracking these initiatives, and many publish consumer-facing guides. If you live in a city with a municipal network, check that provider's assistance page. Longmont's program is a good example of what local utilities can do.
Then compare private low-cost plans in your area. Sites like the FCC's broadband map and nonprofit resources like EveryoneOn can help you see what is actually available at your address. When you compare, look beyond the monthly price. Check the data cap, the equipment fee, and whether digital skills training or discounted devices are included. A $14.95 plan with unlimited data beats a $10 plan with a 20 GB cap for a household with school-age kids.
One more piece of advice: do not assume you fail the eligibility test. The income thresholds are higher than many people expect, and the presence of any household member on SNAP or Medicaid can qualify the whole family. Applying takes minutes, and the discount applies automatically once approved. If your application is denied, you have the right to appeal, and the Lifeline Support Center can walk you through it.
Getting connected in America today is a maze of federal rules, state experiments, and corporate programs, but the pieces do fit together. A federal discount can be paired with a low-cost private plan, a state subsidy can cover what federal funds no longer do, and local providers are increasingly building their own safety nets. The system is not perfect, and it changes fast, but for most families there is a combination that works. The first step is simply checking what you qualify for.
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