Am I Eligible for ACP?

Low-income households are eligible. A “household” is a group of people who live together and share money (even if they are not related to each other). Each household is eligible for a separate ACP. For example, an adult living with someone else who supports him would together be a household, as is a parent and child living together, or a couple living together. In contrast, four roommates living together but not sharing money would be four separate households. In addition, any eligible member of a household makes the entire household eligible. For example, a child or senior enrolled in program that is part of ACP makes the entire household eligible for ACP. Also, when a child shares time living in two households, such as when divorced parents share custody but live at different houses, both households may qualify for ACP.

Households are eligible for ACP if they meet one of the following conditions:

1. They are enrolled in one of the following programs:
   • Medicaid
   • SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
   • National School Lunch Program (often called Free and Reduced Meals in Montgomery County Public Schools)
   • Pell Grants
   • Lifeline Program
   • A low-cost internet program (such as from Internet Essentials from Comcast, Internet First from RCN, or Lifeline through Verizon, T-Mobile or other carrier)
   • Federal Public Housing Assistance (OBP is working to get more information – only federal public housing assistance, not state housing assistance qualifies for ACP. Non-federal, local housing program participants likely will not qualify for ACP on this basis, but could qualify under other programs.)
   • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
   • Veterans Administration Pension or Survivors Benefits
   • Tribal Assistance (Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needed Families (TA-TANF, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance (GA), Tribal Head Start, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR))
2. Their income is less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines
   • $27,180 for a household of 1
   • $36,620 for a household of 2
   • $46,060 for a household of 3
   • $55,500 for a household of 3
   • Or $9,440 more for each additional household member$29,322 for a household of 3

How Do I Apply for ACP?

You can get help at a Montgomery Connects computer distribution event or you may apply online, by telephone, or by mail. 

You must have an email address to apply. (If you need assistance creating an email address, click on the instructions below.) The easiest and fastest way to apply is online.

Have your email and one of these documents ready before you apply.

Three Step Process to Apply for ACP Internet Benef:

1. Go to the National Verifier website https://acpbenefit.org/ and click on “Apply Now”. If you already have an account, scroll to the top of the page and click on “Sign In”. If you'd like to change the language, click on your preferred language on the top of the page.
2. Use or create an ACP account and fill in the ACP Application to receive your Application ID Number. Write this number down!
3. Contact your internet provider or Cell phone Provider, tell them you want the ACP Discount applied to your account and give your provider you Application ID Number. 

*For step-by-step instructions, view this pdf.
*For more detailed instructions:

• Online Application Instructions - English
• Online Application Instructions - Spanish
• Online Application Instructions - Arabic
• Online Application Instructions -  Simplified Chinese
• Online Application Instructions - French
• Online Application Instructions - Korean
• Online Application Instructions - Portuguese
• Online Application Instructions - Russian
• Online Application Instructions - Tagalog
• Online Application Instructions - Vietnamese

To Get Help in Person:
Find an upcoming event here: (TBA)

For Telephone Help:
Senior Planet Hotline: 888-713-3495 (for people 50 and older in English and Spanish)

What Broadband Providers are Participating in ACP?

The following providers are offering service in Montgomery County. This list may be periodically updated.

You can also use the FCC Companies Near Me tool to find providers by state. You may click on the providers underlined below to reach their ACP promotional pages.

How to Use the National Verifier and What Additional Documents are Required

Go to https://acpbenefit.org/ and click on "Apply Now."

• Enter name
• Enter date of birth
• Enter last four digits of Social Security Number (SSN). Note, you do not need a SNN to apply. You may use a passport driver’s license, military or state ID, or taxpayer ID number instead of an SSN. Enter “0000” for as the last four digits of the Social Security Number (SSN) to use an alternate ID. You will need to upload a copy of the alternate ID.
• Enter home address. If you are homeless, you may enter the address of a support organization as your address.
• If you qualify through a dependent child, enter your child’s information.
• You will be asked to set up an account by choosing a user name and password. You must enter an email address.
• Check the box that you are not a robot.
• Click Submit.
• Go to Affordable Connectivity Program Program and click “get started”
• Select the program you are enrolled in or condition that makes you eligible for ACP. (You may select more than one.)
• Review your name, date of birth, SSN number, and address. Make corrections if necessary.
• Confirm your address and location on map.
• Confirm your household information.
• Type your initials into boxes to acknowledge you agree with the ACP eligibility conditions (3 questions).
• THE NEXT SCREENS ARE WHERE YOU WILL ENTER DOCUMENTS TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY. Don’t be alarmed to read “We Didn’t Recognize Your Information” or “We Could Not Confirm That You Qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program”.

  The National Verifier is designed to look information from other databases to confirm that you are enrolled in a program. But at this time, the system can only look up participants in the Lifeline, Medicaid, and VA programs.

  IF YOU ARE QUALIFYING FOR ACP BY BEING ENROLLED IN ANY OTHER PROGRAM, ARE QUALIFYING BASED ON INCOME, OR HAVE AN ALTERNATE FORM OF ID, YOU WILL REACH THESE PAGES AND WILL NEED TO UPLOAD ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION. (Don’t worry! Don’t give up! Everything will be alright)

  BE PREPARED – HAVE YOUR DOCUMENTS READY. Below is short chart of what documents are needed or use this list. Use links below to get more specific information.

  For program eligibility, what you need is an eligibility or certification letter with your name, the program name, the government or educational entity issuing the letter, something stating you are eligible for a program, and it should have an issue date within the last 12 months (with exceptions for SNAP and Pell Grants).

  For income verification, you need a 2020 tax return, income statement from employer, paycheck stub, unemployment benefit statement, divorce or child support award containing income information. If are qualify on the basis of low-income alone, you must demonstrate your income is less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.

  Program That Makes Household Eligible for ACP	What Additional Documentation Must Be Uploaded
  SNAP	Eligibility letter issued in last 12 months
  NSLP (school lunch)	Eligibility letter from school for 2019-20 or 2020-21 school year. (If your child qualify for free school lunch because the majority of students qualify for free lunch and thus all students qualify for free lunch – the system may be able to look up these schools without additional documentation.)
  Medicaid	Additional documents should not be required
  Federal Public Housing Assistance	You can only use federal not state (or presumably local) housing assistance. Award letter stating award amount or public housing assistance lease agreement that has type of Public Housing Assistance credit used.
  Pell Grants	Award letter for the current school year, but you can also use screen shots of National Student Loan Data System or FAFSA dashboard, or a copy of the email sent by the Department of Education about the ACP Program
  Veterans Administration Pension	Additional documents should not be required
  Veterans Administration Survivors Benefit	Additional documents should not be required
  SSI	Eligibility letter issued in last 12 months
  Tribal assistance (TA-TANF, BIA GA, Tribal Head Start, FDPIR)	Eligibility letter issued in last 12 months
  Income 200% of the federal poverty guidelines: Less than $27,180/year for household of 1; less than $36,620 for 2; less than $46,060 for 3; greater than $55,500 for 4; add $9,440 for each additional household member	Tax return, income statement from employer, paycheck stub, unemployment benefit statement, divorce or child support award containing income information

  • Documents to Prove Identity
  • Documents to Resolve Address Issues
  • Documents to Prove Income
  • Documents to Prove Participation in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Pell Grant, School Lunch, and Tribal Programs
  • The County is working to get more information about documents needed to demonstrate participation in Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Initial (again!, yes again!) that you understand the ACP program rules and have been truthful. Then click SUBMIT!
• If you apply between the hours of 9 am and 9 pm ET (7 days a week), wait 2 to 3 minutes, and then a screen will appear providing you with an APPLICATION ID Number. SAVE THIS NUMBER! You will need it when you sign up for broadband.
• If you need assistance:
  • Affordable Connectivity Program Center | (877) 384-2575 | ACPSupport@usac.org
    Available 7 days a week between 9 am and 9 pm ET
  • Use this Form to get help from the Office of Broadband Programs, Community Technology team.

Check if you can receive Lifeline too!

What is Lifeline?  The Lifeline Program will provide up to an additional $9.25 per month off your phone or internet bills or your combined phone and internet bill.  

What is the difference between ACP and Lifeline?  You must have a lower income to qualify for Lifeline than for ACP.  You must be enrolled in one of 5 benefit programs to qualify for Lifeline, but there are 8 benefits programs you can use to enroll in ACP.  

Do You Qualify For Lifeline?

Benefit Program & Income	ACP	Lifeline
SNAP Food Benefit	YES	YES
Medicaid	YES	YES
SSI	YES	YES
Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit	YES	YES
HOC Housing Choice Voucher Program	YES	YES
Free or Reduced-Price School Lunch	YES	NO
WIC	YES	NO
Pell Grant (College Students)	YES	NO
Income 1 Person	$27,180 for 1 person	$18,347 for 1 person
Income 2 People	$36,620 for 2 people	$24,719 for 2 people
Income 3 People	$46,060 for 3 people	$31,091 for 3 people
Income 4 People	$55,500 for 4 people	$37,463 for 4 people
Additional Income For Each Person	$9,440 for each additional person	$6,372 for each additional person

Can I get both ACP and Lifeline? Yes, if you are eligible for both, you can receive both benefits.   
For example, if you qualify for both, you could apply both discounts together and get up to $59.25 off your home or mobile internet bill, or you could use the ACP to get up to $45 off your home internet bill and get $9.25 off your mobile telephone or internet bill.  

Why should I sign up for Lifeline?  Some providers offer a free phone or discounted computer for Lifeline customers, but not for ACP customers.  You can also receive additional saving off your home or mobile telephone bill.  You cannot use ACP for regular phone service, only for home internet or internet on your mobile phone.  

How do I sign up for Lifeline?
View this PDF document for instructions on how to sign up for LifeLine

What Broadband Programs Are Less Than $50 per Month?

Broadband Programs for Everyone Priced Around $50 per month

• Verizon fios offers 200 Mbps up and down for $54.99 per month if you enroll in autopay. Price includes equipment but not taxes. There is $99 setup fee that will be waived if you order online. Offer may require a deposit.
• Comcast Xfinity offers 100 Mbps up and down for $44.94 for 1 year. Price includes equipment but not taxes. Plan is $10 more per month if customer does not enroll in autopay and paperless billing.
• RCN offers two plans: Up to 300 Mbps for $42.00 per month. Price includes equipment but not taxes. No contract required, no data cap, and next day install.

Low-Cost Broadband Plans for Low-income Families

Comcast Xfinity, RCN Starpower, Verizon Fios, and others offer low-cost home broadband programs for low-income families. Additional information is available here:

• FIOS- 200 mbps | 39.99 w/ autopay + taxes and equip| $15 p/ router fee applies and $99 setup fee| may require a deposit| setup fee is waived for online orders
• Xfinity- 100 mbps| $29.99 w/ autopay| Offer ends 06/01/21. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only| 12 months w no term agreement | online exclusive price. $14.95 equip fee p/m
• RCN- up to 50 mbps | $22.00 + taxes and equip.| no contract req
• RCN- up to 300 mbps | $32.00 + taxes and equip. | no contract, no data caps, no contact next day install | internet special | $10 p/m equip. fee
• Verizon Wireless – 200 Mbps | $19.99 Per month w. Lifeline approval, Auto Pay + taxes & equip. | $15 a month router charges | $99 setup and taxes & terms may apply | Setup charge waived for online orders
• Verizon Wireless – 400 Mbps | $39.99 per month w/ Lifeline approval, Auto Pay + taxes & equip.| Offer valid for new eligible customers until 7.21.21 | $99 setup and taxes & terms may apply | Setup charge waived for online orders | Comes with Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) and Blink Mini devices given by Verizon and redeemed on Amazon.com
• AT&T - $65 per month | Unlimited talk, text and data | 5G included
• AT&T - $75 per month | Unlimited talk, text and data + 50 GB Premium data
• T-Mobile - $60 per month with Autopay plus taxes & fees | Unlimited talk & text + 50 GB Premium data | Unlimited mobile hotspot data at 3G speed

Comparison of Eligibility Criteria for Low-Cost Plans and Eligibility for ACP

Frequently Asked Questions

Please submit questions to OBP@montgomerycountymd.gov and we will update this section with responses.

• Federal Communications Commission Consumer FAQs for ACP
• Comcast ACP FAQs and Error Message FAQs
• RCN ACP FAQs
• Verizon ACP FAQs

Materials to Learn More About and Promote ACP

The Office of Broadband Programs (OBP) is available to provide speakers and is working with ConnectedDMV to provide “Train the Trainer” trainings for staff, volunteers, and case workers that want to better understand how to enroll residents in ACP. Send an email to OBP@montgomerycountymd.gov.

To sign up for periodic updates about ACP and enrollment events, send an email to OBP@montgomerycountymd.gov..

OBP is working on developing Montgomery County specific promotion materials. The FCC has a toolkit of promotional materials in multiple languages available here.

Presentations

ACP Kickoff

Upcoming Events