The Internet opens vast opportunities in front of us. In our daily life, in every moment of the day, we depend on the internet. In the time of the pandemic , we could feel the importance of the internet. The Government also realizes this fact. So, our Government tries its best to make the internet affordable for common low-income people. To achieve the goal, the Government established the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Altice USA’s Optimum is proud to be a partner with the Government in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Optimum works with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and offers a plan with a discount of up to $30/mo (for residents of non-Tribal Lands) or up to $75/mo (for residents of Tribal Lands) on their clients’ internet bill.
If you are a low-income person and cannot afford internet for its high cost, then you may take this opportunity to get free internet from the Government.
Eligibility Criteria For Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
The eligibility of the Affordable Connectivity Program is determined through two types of criteria. These are income based and Program Participation based eligibility criteria.
- Income based Eligibility: You or Your household can be qualified for Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) if yours or your household’s annual income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Participation based Eligibility: If you or any member of your household participates in any of the following Government or Federal Assistance Program , then you are eligible for the Optimum 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 US Department of Agriculture(USDA)Community Eligibility Provision Schools in the 2021-22, 2020-21, or 2019-20, school year.
- 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 reside in a qualifying Tribal Land, then you can be qualified for the Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), if you or a member of your household takes part in any of the following Programs:
- Any of the above mentioned Federal Assistance Programs.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance.
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.(TANF).
- Head Start (Only Households meeting the income qualifying standard).
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.(FDPIR)
- If you already have Lifeline Benefits: Lifeline is a supportive Program from Federal Communications Commission(FCC) that makes communication service affordable to low-income People. If you are eligible for the Lifeline, then you are automatically eligible for Optimum ACP too.
What Document Should I Submit When I Apply For The Optimum ACP Program
If you are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, then you have to submit documents to prove your eligibility. You need to submit the following documents to be enrolled in the Optimum Affordable Connectivity program.
- To confirm your identity: To confirm your identity , submit one of the following 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.
- To confirm your age: To confirm your age , submit one of the following documents:
- A valid ID.
- Passport.
- Birth certificate, or
- Emancipation certificate.
- To confirm your address: To confirm your address, submit one of the following documents.
- Driver’s license or another valid government, state, or Tribal ID.
- Utility bill.
- Mortgage or lease statement.
- Most recent W-2 or tax return.
- To demonstrate your household income: To demonstrate your household income, you need to submit one of the following documents:
- Previous year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return
- Current income statement from your employer or paycheck stub
- Social Security statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits
- Divorce decree, child support award, or an equivalent official document displaying your income
- Retirement/pension statement of benefits
- To Prove Enrollment in Government Programs:You may submit any of the following official documents to confirm your enrollment in certain government assistance programs:
- Benefit award letter.
- Approval letter.
- Statement of benefits.
- Benefit verification letter.
- You may be a tribal land resident: In that case you qualify through Tribal land programs. You have to submit documents related to the following programs.
- Tribal Head Start
- Tribal TANF
- The Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
You may also be required to provide documents to prove your Social Security Number and also submit documents to prove that you are alive.
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.
How To Apply For Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Dear reader, you can apply for the Affordable Connectivity program through optimum in three different ways. You can apply through their website, or apply online through USAC’s website or apply via mail, if you are comfortable with. In the following section, I write about these three ways of application.
- Apply through Optimum: You can contact Optimum and apply for the Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) through their online application process. For that visit: “optimum.com/affordable-connectivity-program“.
- Apply Online: To apply online, just go to ACP official website. It will take you to the Affordable Connectivity program’s website. From the site you can directly fill up the ACP form. Fill up the form with all necessary information and then submit it. You have to upload all your necessary documents’ soft copies.
- Apply via mail: You can print out an application form from ACP website. From the same website you can also print out the household worksheet. Complete the application and fill out the household worksheet. Now you have to send the completed application, along with the completed household worksheet and all the copies of your proof documents to the following address: ACP Support Center, PO Box 9100, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773.
Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Plans
The Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program uses T-Mobile’s 4G LTE/5G network and offers up to $30-$75 discount for its valued customers. For Optimum Affordable Connectivity program consumers from Tribal lands , Optimum’s Plans are absolutely free. The Optimum ACP plans are given below:
Free with ACP(Light User)
- 1GB, Reg.$15/mo.
- Features: Send and receive emails and images, lightly browse the internet, and occasionally check social Media.
- Offers:
- 1 GB Premium Data.
- Unlimited talk and text.
- 5G access at no additional cost.
Free with ACP(Moderate User)
- 3GB, Reg. $25/mo
- Features: Stream music, closely follow social media, make a few video calls, and occasionally stream video.
- Offers:
- 3GB Premium data.
- Unlimited Talk and Text.
- 5G access at no additional cost.
$15/mo with ACP(Heavy User)
- Unlimited , Reg. $45/mo.
- Features: Regularly stream video and music, download and play connected games, and join work meetings on the go.
- Offers:
- 20 GB Premium Data.
- Unlimited talk and text.
- 5GB Hotspot.
- 5G access aty no additional cost.
$25/mo with ACP(Always Connected)
- Unlimited Max, Reg. $55/mo.
- Features: Regularly stream HD-quality video and music, download and play the most modern connected games, and more.
- Offers:
- 50 GB Premium Data.
- Unlimited talk and text.
- 15 GB Hotspot.
- 5G access at no additional cost.
A special offer for Optimum ACP Consumers: Qualifying new and current customers can use their ACP Benefit on the optimum Internet service if they wish. Once approved, they can enjoy internet for the whole month for free of cost at 300 Mbps Speed.
Limitations Of Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
To continue with the Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you must accept the following rules.
- You must use your Optimum ACP service at least once in every 30 days, If you do not do so, then your service will be terminated.
- The Optimum ACP is non-transferable. That means you cannot transfer your ACP benefits to another individual or household though they are eligible.
- Optimum ACP is for eligible consumers only.
- To enroll in the Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program, you need to submit proof of eligibility.
- Only one Optimum ACP benefit is permitted per household.
- An Important Thing to Note: Each household can only receive one Optimum Affordable Connectivity Benefit. The benefit is portable from one participating provider to another, but cannot be transferred to another individual or household even though they qualified. Qualifying Households will be subject to optimum’s undiscounted rates and general terms and conditions if they disqualify, de-enroll, transfer their benefit to another provider without cancelling service, or if the program ends.
Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Recertification
Every year, USAC authority or your internet provider check to confirm that you are still qualified for the Affordable Connectivity Program or not. This verification process is called Recertification. If you are requested to respond to the recertification notice, but you do not respond timely, then you may lose your Optimum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Benefits and your internet service may be terminated.
How Do I Contact Optimum For Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)?
If you have any enquiry, please contact their customer support.
- Support: Optimum Mobile Customer service: 866-200-7186 or 611 (From an optimum mobile phone).
- Optimum Mobile Technical support: 866-200-7186 or 611( From an optimum mobile phone).
- For sales related enquiry: Optimum Mobile sales: 866-200-7004
- Support Hours: Monday – Friday : 8 A.M -10 P.M EST., Saturday – Sunday : 8 A.M-8 P.M EST.
Conclusion
To make internet affordable , government takes many necessary steps. In this regard, we can consider Optimum’s role as a helping effort to assist the government achieve the goal. Optimum, like many other wireless providers, plays a vital role in making internet affordable for low-income common people of the U.S. We hope that Optimum will continue their service and make internet not only affordable but also available for all citizens of the U.S.