What Replaced the ACP? Your Complete Guide to Affordable Internet in 2026

Quick Answer: The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) officially ended on June 1, 2024, after exhausting its $14.2 billion in federal funding — and as of March 2026, no federal replacement has been passed. The good news: you still have real options. The Lifeline program offers up to $9.25/month off your bill, most major ISPs run their own low-income plans starting at $9.95–$30/month, and tools like FreeConnect can match you to the best plan at your address in about 10 minutes.

We know this is frustrating. Millions of families counted on the ACP to keep their internet on — and losing it was a real hit. Bills that were manageable suddenly weren't, and for a lot of people, cutting internet wasn't really an option when so much of daily life — jobs, school, healthcare — depends on being connected.

If you're wondering what your options are now, you're in the right place. This guide covers everything: what the ACP was, why it ended, and exactly how to get affordable internet today. We'll walk you through every program that's still running, break down the cheapest plans by provider, and show you how to combine benefits to get your bill as low as possible.

What Was the ACP?

The Affordable Connectivity Program was a federal benefit that helped low-income households pay for internet service. At its peak, it was one of the biggest broadband assistance programs in U.S. history.

Here's what it offered:

• $30/month discount on your internet bill (or up to $75/month if you lived on Tribal lands)

• A $100 one-time discount toward a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer

• No income cap for households already enrolled in qualifying programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or Pell Grants

The program served more than 23 million households at its height — proof that the need for affordable internet is enormous and very real.

It was funded by $14.2 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed in 2021, and administered by the FCC. For a while, it worked beautifully. Then the money ran out.

What Happened to the ACP? Why Did It End?

In short: Congress didn't refill the bucket before it emptied.

Here's the timeline:

• Late 2023: The FCC warned that ACP funding was running low and asked Congress to approve additional funding.

• February 8, 2024: The FCC stopped accepting new ACP enrollments.

• June 1, 2024: The program officially ended. Existing participants lost their discounts.

What makes this especially painful is that reauthorization had broad bipartisan support — 64% of Republicans, 70% of Independents, and 95% of Democrats backed extending the program. Despite that, Congress failed to pass a renewal bill before the funding ran out.

The consequences were immediate. An estimated 5 million households lost internet access entirely after the ACP ended, according to Human-I-T, a nonprofit that helps low-income families get connected. Many more saw their bills jump by $30 or more overnight.

As of March 2026, no federal replacement for the ACP exists. There have been proposals, but nothing has been signed into law.

What Are Your Options Now?

Here's the honest truth: the ACP was the best deal out there, and nothing has fully replaced it yet. But you're not without options. Here are the main paths to affordable internet in 2026.

Option 1: The Lifeline Program

Lifeline is a long-running federal program that predates the ACP — and unlike the ACP, it's still active. It gives eligible households a discount on their monthly phone or internet bill.

What Lifeline offers:

• $9.25/month discount on internet or phone service

• Up to $34.25/month if you live on Tribal lands

• Available through participating providers (including many mobile carriers)

Who qualifies? You're eligible if your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if anyone in your household participates in one of these programs:

• SNAP (food stamps)

• Medicaid

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

• Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits

• Lifeline's own Tribal-specific programs

Lifeline won't cover your whole bill the way the ACP sometimes did, but $9.25/month off every month adds up — that's over $110 in savings per year. You can learn more and apply at USAC's Lifeline page or through USAGov.

Option 2: ISP Low-Income Plans

Here's something most people don't know: many of the biggest internet providers in the country offer their own discounted plans for low-income households — completely separate from government programs.

These plans exist because ISPs want the federal contracts and goodwill that come with serving underserved communities. The eligibility requirements vary, but most are tied to SNAP, Medicaid, or having a K-12 student in the house.

Here's a comparison of the major plans available as of 2026:

• Xfinity Internet Essentials: $14.95/mo | 75 Mbps | SNAP, Medicaid, NSLP

• Xfinity Internet Essentials Plus: $29.95/mo | 100 Mbps | SNAP, Medicaid, NSLP

• Cox Connect2Compete: $9.95/mo | 100 Mbps | K-12 child + govt assistance

• Spectrum Internet Assist: $25.00/mo | 50 Mbps | NSLP, SSI, CEP

• AT&T Access from AT&T: $30.00/mo | 100 Mbps | SNAP, SSI, NSLP

• Optimum Advantage Internet: $15.00/mo | 100 Mbps | NSLP, SSI, NYC public school

• Cox ConnectAssist: $30.00/mo | 100 Mbps | 200% below FPL

• WOW! Internet for Education: $9.99/mo | 30 Mbps | K-12 + NSLP/SNAP

• Verizon Forward: Varies | Varies | Federal assistance program

A few things worth knowing about these plans:

• Not all providers serve all areas. Xfinity won't help you if Cox is your only option — and vice versa.

• Eligibility programs use abbreviations: NSLP = National School Lunch Program, CEP = Community Eligibility Provision, FPL = Federal Poverty Level.

• Some plans require you to not have had service from that provider recently (often 90 days or 1 year).

The cheapest option here — Cox Connect2Compete at $9.95/month — is an incredible deal if you have a school-age kid at home and Cox serves your area. But only FreeConnect or a quick address check will tell you what's actually available where you live.

Option 3: Use FreeConnect to Find What's at Your Address

This is where we come in. FreeConnect is an authorized internet dealer for 25+ providers, and we specialize in exactly this situation: helping people find affordable internet after the ACP ended.

Here's what makes FreeConnect different:

• Address-matching tool — plug in your address and see every plan available to you, including all the low-income options above

• No guesswork — we show you real prices, not estimates

• We handle the paperwork — we can walk you through Lifeline enrollment and ISP applications

• Plans starting at $25/month, and sometimes less depending on your location and eligibility

• Mobile service bundling — if you need a cheap phone plan too, we can help stack that in

The whole process takes about 10 minutes. You don't need great credit. You don't need to talk to a sales rep who's going to upsell you. Just your address and a few eligibility questions.

One thing we hear a lot is "I didn't even know that plan existed in my area." That's the whole point of what we do — the cheapest plan available to you is worthless if you don't know it exists. We do the searching so you don't have to.

Can You Stack Lifeline with an ISP Discount Plan?

Yes — and this is one of the best-kept secrets in affordable internet right now.

In many cases, you can combine your Lifeline benefit ($9.25/month) with an ISP low-income plan to drive your monthly cost down even further.

Here's an example:

Xfinity Internet Essentials runs $14.95/month. Apply your Lifeline discount of $9.25/month, and you're down to $5.70/month for 75 Mbps internet.

That's not quite free, but it's close — and for a lot of families, it makes the difference between having internet and not having it.

Not every ISP allows stacking, and the rules change. The best way to check is to ask when you sign up — or let FreeConnect's team help you figure out what combinations are possible at your address.

What If I Don't Qualify for Government Programs?

Maybe your income is slightly above the threshold, or you don't participate in any qualifying programs. You still have options — and more than you might think.

Things to try:

• Check ISP income-based plans directly. Some plans (like Cox ConnectAssist) base eligibility on income alone, at up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level — which is more generous than Lifeline's 135% threshold.

• Ask about introductory rates. New customers often get 12-month promotional pricing that can be quite affordable.

• Look into community Wi-Fi programs. Many public libraries, community centers, and housing authorities offer free or very low-cost Wi-Fi access.

• Check with your state or city. Several states and cities have launched their own broadband subsidy programs to partially fill the gap the ACP left. New York, California, and others have active programs.

• Consider mobile hotspot plans. Some prepaid mobile plans offer unlimited data at prices that are competitive with home internet for light users.

• Negotiate with your current provider. If you've been a customer for a while and your bill went up after ACP ended, call and ask. Many ISPs have retention offers they don't advertise publicly.

The situation isn't perfect, but you're not powerless either. You can also check Human-I-T's guide for a broader list of community resources by state — they've done a lot of work documenting local programs that have popped up to fill the ACP gap.

How Does the Lifeline Application Process Work?

Applying for Lifeline is simpler than most people expect. Here's how it works:

• Step 1: Check eligibility at NV.gov or through your state's Lifeline portal

• Step 2: Gather documents — proof of income or program participation (a benefits card, letter, or tax return usually works)

• Step 3: Apply online at lifelinesupport.org — it takes about 10 minutes

• Step 4: Choose a provider — after approval, you'll pick a Lifeline-participating carrier in your area

• Step 5: Apply the benefit — the discount will be applied to your monthly bill automatically going forward

One important note: you must recertify your Lifeline eligibility annually. If you miss the recertification window, your benefit will be paused. Most providers will remind you, but it's worth setting a calendar reminder for yourself.

Will the Federal Government Replace the ACP?

Honestly? It's hard to say.

There have been multiple bills introduced in Congress to restore or expand the ACP. The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act was introduced in both the House and Senate, but as of March 2026, it has not passed.

The political environment has shifted since the ACP was created. The current administration has shown less support for federal broadband subsidies, and budget pressures make a direct replacement less likely in the near term.

That said, there are still advocates pushing for it at both the federal and state level. The Alliance for Affordable Internet and organizations like the National Digital Inclusion Alliance continue to push for restored and expanded broadband assistance. If you want to stay informed, their newsletters are worth signing up for.

For now, the practical advice is: don't wait for a replacement. Use what's available today, and stay informed in case something changes.

Bottom Line

The ACP is gone, and no federal replacement has emerged. But you're not stuck paying full price.

Here's what to do right now:

• Apply for Lifeline if you meet the income or program requirements. It's $9.25/month off your bill indefinitely — not nothing.

• Check what ISP low-income plans are available at your address. The cheapest option at your specific location might surprise you.

• Stack both if you can. Lifeline + a low-income ISP plan could get you down to under $10/month.

• Use FreeConnect's address tool to skip the research and see what's actually available to you — it takes about 10 minutes and it's free.

The digital divide is real, and the loss of the ACP made it worse. But affordable internet is still possible — it just takes a bit more work to find it now. We're here to help with that.