Knoxville Chamber: AT&T Offers Eligible Customers Low-Cost Broadband Through New Program

From the Knoxville Chamber:

January 20, 2022

AT&T and Cricket Wireless have opened enrollment for the new federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) which is helping expand benefits for millions of Americans.

What’s new?

The ACP replaces the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). ACP will provide eligible households with a benefit of up to $30 a month to help reduce the cost of broadband service. Households on qualifying Tribal lands will be eligible for $75 a month.

Why is this important?

Affordability is one of the key roadblocks to narrowing the digital divide. The ACP will help make broadband services more affordable for American households who may qualify.

What’s changing?

• Households will have new ways to qualify for ACP such as receiving WIC benefits or having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Eligibility requirements can be found at acpbenefit.org.
• For households enrolled in ACP, the monthly subsidy has changed to $30/mo. There is no change to the Tribal benefit. See information below regarding the transition period for households enrolled in EBB as of December 30, 2021.

New customers can confirm eligibility today.

Customers can apply to the federal government’s National Verifier at ACPBenefit.org to determine if they are eligible for ACP. Eligibility is determined by the federal government, not by AT&T. Once approved, find out details on which AT&T services are available by going to att.com/acp or to cricketwireless.com/ACP for information on Cricket Wireless plans.

How can EBB customers take advantage of ACP?

For EBB customers, benefits will remain the same through March 1.

• To receive the ACP benefit after March 1, customers may contact the Universal Services Administrative Co. (USAC) to reverify eligibility.
• For customers who qualified for EBB under a COVID program or substantial loss of income criteria, the National Verifier will need to reverify your eligibility under different criteria prior to March 1.
• See details on which AT&T services are available at att.com/acp or cricketwireless.com/ACP.

This press release was produced by the Knoxville Chamber. The views expressed are the author's own.