The Affordable Connectivity Program provides Philadelphians with free or low-cost broadband internet access

The year is 2023 and reliable internet is an essential part of daily life. Whether you are participating in the workforce, going to school, or accessing basic resources, you need to get online to fully take part in society.

The City of Philadelphia understands the importance of broadband access and has made digital equity a high priority. In 2020 it launched PHLConnectED to help school age children and families access free internet. The City also has a team of Digital Navigators available to meet one-on-one with residents to provide support with accessing free or low-cost internet and devices and digital skills-building resources.

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)?

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal benefit provided by the Federal Communications Commission. The ACP helps ensure households can afford the broadband internet access they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The ACP can help thousands of Philadelphians get connected to free or low-cost broadband internet.

Eligible households can receive:

• A discount of up to $30 per month towards broadband service; and
• A discount of up to $100 to buy a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. A household must contribute between $10 and $50 toward the device cost.

A household is eligible if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Has an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines OR participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers), Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/202/811, Public Housing, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
• Participates in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program,
• including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools;
  • Note: All School District of Philadelphia households are eligible for the ACP under the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch program.
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program.

You also qualify if your household’s annual income is below:

• $36,620 for a family of two
• $46,060 for a family of three
• $55,500 for a family of four

You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or have a Social Security number to qualify.

I’m interested. What do I need to do next?

Visit www.getacp.org/phl to see if you are eligible and know what documents you will need to apply for the ACP. Getacp.org/phl offers Spanish and Chinese translation.

You can also dial 2-1-1 to see if you’re eligible and schedule a 1:1 appointment with a Digital Navigator who can walk you through all your options for internet service. Press 8 for language services. The 211 hotline operates 24/7 and is available in 150 languages.