CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program

CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program

In our country high speed internet is somehow still beyond the reach of many low income people. Though they deserve high speed internet, they cannot afford it for want of money. To help them , the government takes some initiatives. One of which is the Affordable Connectivity program. To help to achieve this goal, some service providers come forward to work hand in hand with the government. CenturyLink is one of them.

How CenturyLink And The Government Work Together in Achieving The Goal Of The ACP Program

CenturyLink provides the low-income people of our country with high speed internet for free. This is possible with the help of the government initiative , the Affordable Connectivity Program, formerly known as EBB (Emergency Broadband Benefit ) program. Their involvement with the Affordable Connectivity Program helps households with low income to remain connected to essential Communication services. The CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program offers a $30 discount per month towards an individual’s internet bill. ( $75 discount per month for qualified Tribal Households.) You or your household can also get a one-time discount of up to $100 towards getting a tablet, Laptop, or desktop computer.

Benefits of CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

CenturyLink plays a vital role in managing affordable internet for those who do not have the means to pay for costly internet plans.

CenturyLink tries their best to make the internet available for all the citizens of the United States and also tries to ensure that all people are able to access internet service with ease and at an affordable cost. Some benefits of CenturyLink are:

  • No credit check or service deposit is required.
  • No long-term contracts are needed.
  • Automatic bill payment is available.
  • 24/7 technical support.
  • Option to upgrade to faster speeds at any time.

CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps people in rural and underprivileged areas. It helps them to search for jobs and provides them with information about housing, education, medical services, shopping, and so on. CenturyLink offers discounted plans for low-income people. Depending on your budget or needs you can choose from a variety of plans.

Installation of the Internet: CenturyLink charges a small amount of one-time charge for the Technical installation of the High-Speed Internet to your house.

Note: The Affordable Connectivity Program will stop accepting new applications and enrollments on February 7, 2024. So consumers must be approved and enrolled with a service provider by 11:59 p.m ET on February 7th to receive the ACP benefits. The existing ACP beneficiaries will continue to receive their ACP benefits for at least April 2024. This date is an estimate and may change.

Application Procedure For The CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program 

If you are eligible then you can apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program. There are three ways to apply for CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program: 

  1. Online: You can apply online. Just go to ACP’s official website. From this website, you can directly fill up the FCC’s ACP form. Fill up all the required fields and then submit. As your application is approved, you will get a voucher. You need to submit this voucher to your preferred provider( Here CenturyLink) and get all ACP benefits.
  2. Via Mail: From the ACP’s official website, you can print out an application in English or Spanish as your requirement. You also need to print out the household worksheet and fill it out and attach it with the application. Now, send the completed application, along with the completed household worksheet and all the copies of your proof documentation to: ACP Support Center, PO Box 9100, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773.
  3. Apply Through CenturyLink: As CenturyLink participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you can also apply through their application process. You can take full assistance from a representative to successfully apply for the CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Eligibility Requirements For CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program

If you can meet any of the following requirements, then you are eligible for CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program:

  • Eligibility Based on your Income: You can qualify for CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits if your or your household’s annual income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline.
  • Participation-Based Eligibility: If you or one of your household members participates in one of the following programs, then you are eligible for CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program.
    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
    • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA).
    • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.
    • Medicaid.
    • Free or Reduced-price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, at U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) Community Eligibility Provision Schools.
    • Acquired a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year.
    • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC (women, infants, and children).
  • Tribal Assistance Program: If you live in the qualifying Tribal Lands, then you can be eligible for ACP if your or your household’s income equals or less than 200% of the Federal poverty guidelines or if you or a member of your household takes part in:
    • Any of the above-mentioned Federal Assistance Programs.
    • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance.
    • Tribal TANF.
    • Head Start (Only Households meeting the income qualifying standard).
    • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.
  • If you already have Lifeline Benefits: Lifeline is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Program that makes communication services affordable for low–income families. If you are qualified or eligible for the lifeline, then you are automatically qualified or eligible for CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Documents Required For CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program

To be approved by the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) you need to submit documents to prove your eligibility, Age, Identity, Address, Income, Participation in the Federal Government Assistance Program, etc.

You have to submit some documents as proof of your eligibility. You must submit the following documents.

  • Documents to verify your identity: You have to submit documents to prove your identity.
    • Documents: Valid government, military, state, or Tribal ID, Birth Certificate , U.S. Driver’s license , Passport , Certificate of U.S. Citizenship , Permanent Resident Card or Green Card.
  • Documents to verify your Age/Emancipation Status: You have to submit a document that proves your age. For that, you have to submit an official document that contains your Full Name and Date of Birth. If you are under 18 or an emancipated minor, then you must submit a court-approved document that shows your emancipation status.
    • Documents: A valid ID, Passport, Birth Certificate, or Emancipation Certificate.
  • Address Verification: Submit a document that contains your valid address and full name. This document is used for the verification of your address.
    • Documents: A valid ID, Driver’s license, Utility Bill, or a Recent Mortgage or Lease Statement, W-2, or Tax Return.
  • Income Proof: You have to prove that your income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For this you must submit a document that shows your income.
    • Documents: A prior year’s State, Federal, or Tribal Tax Return, Current Income Statement from your Employer, Paycheck Stub, Social Security Statement of Benefits, or Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation Statement of Benefits.
  • Program Participation Proof: You should submit documents that prove your participation in certain government assistance programs. These documents must contain your Full Name, the Program’s Name, the Document Issuing Institution’s Name, and a Valid Date.
    • Documents: Approval Letters, Benefit Award Letters, Benefit Verification Letters, or Benefit Statements.

Keep it in mind that you must submit a document that proves you are alive and also need a document to prove your social security number.

When submitting your documents, please do not submit the original documents, instead, submit copy documents, because the documents you submit are unreturnable.

After the submission of your application with all the necessary documents and proof documents, the FCC will inform you by sending email confirmation if you are approved by the CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

You May Consider These Options For Affordable Internet Service, If Your Application For The ACP Is Not Approved

If you cannot qualify for the CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and also are not in a condition to afford expensive internet, then do not get upset. Some well-known internet service providers offer cheap internet connections for as low as $9.95 a month.

Such internet plans with their providers are mentioned briefly below:

  1. Comcast’s Internet Essentials: Comcast comes with its low-income internet assistance service called internet essentials. If you live in an area that is covered by Comcast, then you can get their service Internet Essentials for just $9.95 per month.
  2. Cox’s low-income internet: Cox Communications is one of the nation’s largest cable companies, with millions of subscribers. Cox’s low-income internet plan will give you unlimited cable internet at a broadband download speed of 5Mbps. They require no contract and no extra fees. Only $9.95 per month.
  3. Bright House Networks Low-Income Internet: Bright House offers unlimited cable internet at 1 Mbps speed for $9.95 a month for low-income people. They require no contract and no charge. Additionally, they offer an option to purchase a computer for only $150.
  4. Connect2Compete: Connect2Compete tries to connect low-income people with various companies that provide high-speed internet at a very low cost, usually under $10 per month. They also work to provide low–priced computers for U.S. citizens and spread digital literacy to low-income communities across the country.