Demings touts new program to lower internet costs

Rep. Val Demings of the Florida 10th District (which includes Apopka) announced a new federal program created under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible families $30/month off their internet bills and is eligible for 40% of American households.

To learn more and sign up at GetInternet.gov.

“I am fighting to lower costs for Florida families and proud to announce this new program to bring down the cost of internet," said Demings. "Every Florida family should be able to access the internet so that they can work, learn, and access critical services like health care. I’m proud of this new investment in Florida’s working families, which will grow our economy and help Floridians access the information they need. I fought for this investment because I believe that when we reduce costs for working families, it makes our state better."

Rep. Demings voted for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, citing the need to rebuild Florida’s economy and get people back to work.

“When we invest in middle-class America," said Demings. "When we invest in people who have to go to work every day, America does better.”

ACP provides eligible families $30/month off their internet bills.

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Biden-Harris Administration has secured commitments from 20 internet providers to cut prices and increase speeds for millions of households enrolled in ACP. ACP-eligible families can get high-speed internet at no cost when choosing one of these plans.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more.

The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?

A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income internet program;
• Participates in one of these assistance programs:
  • The National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
  • SNAP
  • Medicaid
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • WIC
  • Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
  • or Lifeline;
• Participates in one of these assistance programs and lives on Qualifying Tribal lands:
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance 
  • Tribal TANF
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
  • Tribal Head Start (income-based)