Skip Navigation

Low cost high-speed internet for qualified families under a federal program

20 internet service companies have agreed to provide lower-income families high-speed plans for $30 a month or less.

  • Anne Danahy/WPSU
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel talks about the infrastructure law's investments in affordable, accessible high-speed internet from the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022.

 Susan Walsh / AP Photo

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel talks about the infrastructure law's investments in affordable, accessible high-speed internet from the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022.

Under a partnership with the federal government, 20 internet service companies have agreed to provide lower-income families high-speed plans for $30 a month or less, which, when coupled with a government subsidy, means many families can get high-speed access at no cost.

Households can qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program in a number of ways, including having an income that’s within 200% of the federal poverty level; participating in the national school lunch program; or receiving Medicaid or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits.

The 20 companies participating include AT&T, Verizon (Fios) and Comcast. They’ll each offer at least one high-speed plan for $30 a month or less.

“A lot of families during the pandemic, whether it was school online or working remotely online or for some families trying to do job-hunting online, really just kind of amplified the need for broadband access at home,” said Jo Posti, director of public relations for Comcast’s Keystone region.

Support for WITF is provided by:

Become a WITF sponsor today »

Posti said Comcast already had a broadband program for families that qualify. With the rollout of the Affordable Connectivity Program, they’ve repackaged it. So a household that’s eligible can get high-speed internet — 100 megabits per second of download speed, a cable modem and unlimited data for $29.95 a month. The government, in turn, provides a $30 subsidy to people who qualify.

According to the White House, about 48 million households — nearly 40% of American households — qualify for the program.

For more information on the program and to apply online, go to the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Support for WITF is provided by:

Become a WITF sponsor today »

Up Next
Regional & State News

Allentown Morning Call Guild walks off job in 1-day strike