Over 23 million American households were getting up to $30 off their internet bill every month through the Affordable Connectivity Program. Then, on June 1, 2024, it ended — no phase-out, no replacement, just disconnection. An estimated 5 million of those households lost internet access entirely. Two years later, people are still searching for what replaced it. The honest answer: nothing replaced it at the federal level. But that doesn't mean options are gone. Here's exactly what's still available in 2026, who qualifies, and how to apply — including options specific to Washington State.
What Was the ACP and Why Did It End?
The Affordable Connectivity Program launched in December 2021 as an expansion of the Emergency Broadband Benefit from the pandemic era. At its peak, it provided $30/month off internet service ($75/month for households on Tribal lands) to anyone earning at or below 200% of the federal poverty level — roughly $60,000/year for a family of four. Participants in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grants, or the free school lunch program automatically qualified.
Congress originally allocated $14.2 billion for the program. By early 2024, that money was nearly gone. Despite bipartisan support for additional funding and multiple proposed extension bills, Congress did not act in time. New enrollments stopped February 7, 2024. Benefits ended June 1, 2024. As of June 2026, no federal replacement has been enacted, though advocacy organizations continue pushing for reinstatement.
✓ ACP status verified against FCC.gov official announcement and InternetProviders.ai. June 2026.
What's Still Available in 2026: The Complete List
| Program | Monthly Cost | Who Qualifies | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifeline (FCC) | $9.25 discount on any plan | Income ≤135% FPL or SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Veterans Pension | lifelinesupport.org |
| Xfinity Internet Essentials | $14.95/mo (75 Mbps) | SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Pell Grant, new/former ACP customers | xfinity.com/internet-essentials |
| Spectrum Internet Assist | $17.99/mo (30 Mbps) | SNAP, SSI, National School Lunch Program | spectrum.com/browse/content/spectrum-internet-assist |
| AT&T Access | $10/mo (25 Mbps) | SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, income ≤200% FPL | att.com/internet/access |
| T-Mobile Connect | $25/mo (100GB — smartphone data) | Any qualifying household — no assistance program required | t-mobile.com/plans/connect |
| Human-I-T | $14.99/mo (unlimited) | Low-income households, no credit check | human-i-t.org |
Sources: FCC.gov, provider websites, BroadbandNow. Verified June 2026. Prices subject to change.
The Lifeline Program: Still the Best Federal Option
Lifeline is the federal program that predates the ACP and survived it. It provides a $9.25/month discount on internet or phone service for qualifying households — less generous than ACP's $30, but still active and funded through the FCC's Universal Service Fund. Households on Tribal lands get up to $34.25/month.
The income threshold is stricter than ACP was: households must earn at or below 135% of the federal poverty level (roughly $20,000/year for a single person in 2026) or participate in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension programs. The application takes about 10 minutes online at lifelinesupport.org.
One important note: not every ISP participates in Lifeline. Xfinity/Comcast is not a Lifeline provider — they run their own separate Internet Essentials program instead. T-Mobile, AT&T, and many smaller regional carriers do participate in Lifeline. Check the provider list at lifelinesupport.org before applying to confirm your carrier participates.
Xfinity Internet Essentials: The Best Deal for Cable Subscribers
For households in Xfinity's service area — which covers much of the Pacific Northwest including the Seattle metro, Spokane, and surrounding communities — Internet Essentials at $14.95/month is the most accessible low-income option available. It delivers 75 Mbps download speeds with unlimited data and no contract. That's fast enough for video calls, streaming, and multiple devices simultaneously.
Eligibility requirements mirror what ACP used: participation in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension, or the National School Lunch Program. Former ACP customers who were on Xfinity are specifically included. The application is free and takes about 15 minutes at xfinity.com/internet-essentials. No Social Security number is required to apply.
Xfinity does not participate in the federal Lifeline program, so the two discounts cannot be combined. Internet Essentials stands alone as Xfinity's low-income offering — but at $14.95/month for 75 Mbps, it's one of the strongest value propositions in the post-ACP landscape for anyone in a cable-served area.
Washington State Specific Options
Washington State has been more proactive than most states in filling the gap left by ACP. The state's Broadband Office administers BEAD (Broadband Equity Access and Deployment) funding that is actively expanding affordable access in underserved rural areas through 2026. Residents of Eastern Washington, the Olympic Peninsula, and rural communities should check the Washington State Department of Commerce broadband map for ongoing expansion projects.
Washington also has a state-level Lifeline supplement through the Washington Telephone Assistance Program (WTAP), which may provide additional discounts on top of the federal $9.25 Lifeline benefit. Income-qualified Washington residents should check with their provider about stacking state and federal Lifeline benefits. For rural households outside Xfinity's cable footprint, T-Mobile Home Internet at $50/month or Starlink at $120/month are the most realistic alternatives — both widely available across Washington State.
For a detailed comparison of T-Mobile vs Starlink for rural Washington households, the Starlink Mini vs T-Mobile 5G Home Internet comparison covers real-world performance across the region in detail.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1 — Check Lifeline eligibility. Visit lifelinesupport.org and use the National Verifier tool. You'll need proof of income or program participation (SNAP letter, Medicaid card, etc.) and a government-issued ID. Approval typically takes 1–3 business days.
Step 2 — Pick a Lifeline provider. After approval, choose a participating carrier. T-Mobile, AT&T, and many regional carriers participate. The $9.25 discount applies to your monthly bill automatically once enrolled.
Step 3 — Apply to your ISP's own program separately. Xfinity Internet Essentials, Spectrum Internet Assist, and AT&T Access are independent of Lifeline. Apply directly on each provider's website. Approval is usually instant or within 24 hours.
Step 4 — Stack where possible. If your ISP participates in both Lifeline and their own low-income program, the discounts may stack. AT&T Access at $10/month plus Lifeline's $9.25 discount can effectively bring your bill to under $1/month in some cases. Confirm stacking eligibility with your specific provider.
Is the ACP Coming Back?
Possibly — but not soon. Multiple bills have been introduced in Congress to restore ACP funding, including the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act which proposed $7 billion in new funding. As of June 2026, none have passed. The program's political path is complicated: it was created under COVID-era emergency spending, and establishing it as a permanent line item requires sustained congressional will that hasn't materialized.
The most realistic scenario for ACP's return is a broader infrastructure or broadband bill that includes connectivity funding as part of a larger package. Advocacy organizations including the Alliance for Affordable Internet and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance continue pushing for reinstatement. For updates, check fcc.gov/acp directly — that page will reflect any changes if Congress acts.
In the meantime, the combination of Lifeline plus an ISP's own low-income program gets most qualifying households to a manageable bill. It requires more steps than ACP did, and the coverage isn't as universal — but for the 23 million households that relied on ACP, these are the real options available right now. For anyone evaluating carrier options more broadly, the Verizon vs T-Mobile 2026 comparison covers the full carrier landscape including which networks offer the best coverage for budget-conscious subscribers.
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