The FCC and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formalized a partnership to promote awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) among federal housing assistance recipients. The partnership agreement reflects the work both agencies are doing to speed the ACP enrollment process for HUD recipients. The FCC is coordinating with other federal agencies to ensure that low-income households participating in eligible federal assistance programs are provided information about the ACP, including how to enroll in the program.
HUD clarified that receiving benefits through the ACP will not impact the amount of rent that HUD-assisted tenants pay. The sharing agreement enables HUD voucher holders and public housing residents to enroll in ACP with reduced paperwork. Soon, residents of multifamily properties participating in project based rental assistance residents can do the same, according to officials. HUD’s field offices have been holding regional enrollment events across the country and will soon be doing so with FCC sign-up stations.
Since ACP’s inception, FCC staff has conducted extensive outreach to raise awareness of the ACP among households participating in qualifying governmental assistance programs. It created the Your Home, Your Internet pilot outreach program.
“As we’ve seen with the Your Home, Your Internet program, there is a particular nexus between housing and connectivity: if we can help a family secure housing, we should be able to help them secure an internet connection as well,” said FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. “With better coordination between HUD and the FCC, we will get closer to ensuring that the millions of eligible households receiving federal housing assistance have the opportunity to enroll in ACP and get connected.”
More than 20 million households have enrolled in the ACP, according to the FCC. The program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households participating in the ACP can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
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