Affordable Connectivity Program with Brightspeed
Qualified customers receive up to $30 per month off your internet service with the Affordable Connectivity Program.
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal government benefit program designed to help eligible customers pay for their home internet service.
The federal ACP offers a benefit on internet, prepaid wireless, and postpaid wireless service. With the ACP, you get up to $30/mo. off your internet bill, or up to $75/mo. off if you live on qualifying Tribal lands.
Am I eligible for the ACP discount?
You may qualify for the ACP discount if one of the following criteria applies to you:
Your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
A member of your household participates in qualifying government programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, or other government assistance programs.
A member of your household receives a Lifeline benefit.
A member of your household participates in Tribal assistance programs.
To learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program and how to apply for it, visit FCC.gov.
How do I apply for the ACP?
Step one
First, complete USAC eligibility verification.
The FCC National Verifier will confirm whether you qualify for the federal ACP benefits. You’ll be asked to fill out the following before creating an account.
Legal name
Date of birth
Identity verification
Home address
Important: Make sure you use the same information as the primary holder of your Brightspeed account when filling out the National Verifier form.
Step two
Complete the Brightspeed form to ensure the discount is applied to your account.
Once you’ve submitted our form, we’ll send one or more emails to confirm that we’ve received your application and notice of approval. If there are any problems with your application, we’ll send an email with the next steps needed for approval.
Note: If you have any issues or concerns with the Affordable Connectivity Program, we're happy to help. Please call us at 1-833-MYBRSPD (833-692-7773). You also have the right to file a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission by visiting the FCC Consumer Complaint Center website or by contacting the FCC Consumer Complaint Center at 1-888-225-5322.
To learn more about applying for the ACP, visit AffordableConnectivity.gov.
What else should I know about the ACP?
Along with the ACP monthly discount of up to $30 provided by the FCC, Brightspeed will provide an additional monthly discount of up to $30 for ACP qualified customers to create a maximum total savings of up to $60 per month on eligible plans.
If the monthly statement for an ACP qualified customer is less than $60, the total discount will not exceed the statement amount.
The additional Brightspeed discount cannot be combined with the $75 Tribal household discount.
The FCC and Brightspeed ACP discounts are available to customers on a monthly basis for as long as they continue to meet the ACP program eligibility requirements.
The FCC and Brightspeed ACP discounts will end 1) with termination of subscription to eligible services or 2) when a household is no longer eligible for the ACP program. Customers no longer eligible for the ACP program will be subject to the Brightspeed’s regular rates, terms, and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Does Brightspeed offer the ACP discount?
Yes! You can apply your ACP discount to any Brightspeed Internet plan.
What services does the ACP discount apply to?
The ACP benefit can be used on any home internet service, including fiber optic, cable, DSL, and fixed wireless services.
Can my ACP benefit be transferred between service providers?
Yes, absolutely. Your ACP benefit will transfer to your new service provider when you change providers.
How long will the Affordable Connectivity Program discount last?
Since the ACP is a permanent program, your discount will last as long as you maintain eligibility.
Who is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
You may be eligible for for ACP if you or a member of your household meets one of the following criteria:
Your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
A member of your household receives assistance from SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, or other government assistance programs.
A member of your household is the recipient of a Lifeline benefit.
A member of your household participates in Tribal assistance programs.
How is the ACP different from the EBB?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program was created as an emergency service during the COVID pandemic, but was replaced by the ACP in 2021 as a permanent benefit.
Can multiple people in one household receive the ACP benefit?
The ACP benefit is applied to the recipient’s entire household. There can only be one ACP discount per household.
Can I apply for multiple ACP discounts?
No, the same household cannot receive multiple federal ACP discounts. The ACP provides one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Can I transfer my Affordable Connectivity Program benefit to another person?
While you cannot transfer your ACP benefit to another person, qualifying customers can apply for their own ACP benefit by visiting the federal Affordable Care Benefit website.
How do I know if I qualify for the discount?
Your household is eligible if you have an income at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
OR if any member of your household:
Qualifies for certain assistance programs, such as Medicaid, SNAP, federal public housing assistance, WIC, or Lifeline.
If you are already enrolled in Lifeline, you automatically qualify for ACP.
Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.
Participates in Tribal specific programs,
such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
See complete qualification details on the USAC site
Note: Households that qualified for the Emergency Broadband Benefit due to a substantial loss of income after job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 due to COVID-19 will need to re-qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Can I get the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit if I already get the Lifeline benefit?
Yes! In fact, if you are already a Lifeline customer, you are automatically qualified for the ACP. However, you must still complete the Brightspeed application to give us permission to share your account information with the ACP and to apply the discount to your service. Please note that being a Lifeline customer does NOT automatically enroll you in ACP and is non-transferrable and is limited to one monthly internet discount.
Does the National Verifier qualification expire?
Yes. You must complete the Brightspeed application within 90 days of receiving a qualification number from National Verifier.
Can I enroll if I have internet and phone service from Brightspeed?
The Affordable Connectivity Program discount will be applied to the internet charges on your monthly service. If you qualify for ACP, you may also qualify for Lifeline, which can provide you with assistance for your phone service.
Is there a minimum speed requirement to receive the ACP discount?
No, the ACP does not have a minimum speed requirement.
Does the ACP discount apply to installation charges?
No, the Affordable Connectivity Program can only be applied to service charges and not to installation charges.
Can I get the ACP discount if I live in an apartment building?
If you live in an apartment, condo, duplex, or other multi-family building and your internet service is included as part of your monthly rent, talk with your property manager or landlord about working with the service provider for your building to learn more about benefits available for eligible residents.
Can my roommate(s) and I each get the ACP discount?
No. There is one Affordable Connectivity Program benefit for any given household (that is, for all individuals at an address).
Can I still get the ACP discount if I have a past-due amount on my account?
Yes, you can get the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit even if you owe a past-due amount.
How long can I get the ACP discount for?
The ACP is a long-term federal program designed to ensure qualified customers can afford the internet service they need for school, work, health care, and more. If the program ends or your eligibility status changes, you will be notified.
How will I learn when the ACP discount is ending?
The ACP is a long-term federal program designed to ensure qualified customers can afford the internet service they need for school, work, health care, and more. if the program ends or eligibility qualifications change, you will be notified.
If the ACP benefit ends, will my service end, too?
All participating customers are asked to opt-in to continue internet service after the Affordable Connectivity Program ends. The opt-in or opt-out option is part of the Brightspeed ACP application. The Affordable Connectivity Program is a federal government benefit program operated by the Federal Communications Commission and, if it ends, or when a household is no longer eligible, customers will be subject to Brightspeed’s regular rates, terms, and conditions.