BETHEL — As the Mahoosuc Community Broadband Committee develops options for expanding high-speed internet, one important consideration is affordability. We know that cost and broadband adoption are inextricably linked, and we want everyone who wants internet service to feel there is an option they can afford.
That said, there is no universal or standard definition of what affordable internet service is. One gauge to measure affordability is the average monthly internet bill in the United States of $61-$64. The lowest monthly internet subscription rate offered by any of the providers the Mahoosuc Broadband Committee has consulted is $50.
Even $50 is not affordable for everyone, so the Committee is prioritizing options that allow qualified residents to benefit from the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP is a new federal program that is available now and provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.
For example, someone who chooses a $50 monthly subscription and qualifies for the ACP could be paying as little as $20 a month for internet service. Eligible households 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.
A household is eligible if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
• Has an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines; or
• Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income program.
In addition to a member of a household meeting one of the eligibility criteria, the internet service provider must also participate in the program. Our two primary providers – First Light and Charter/Spectrum – do currently participate, and all of the providers we talked with about expanding service are participating in the ACP.
Anyone who’s interested in taking advantage of the Affordable Connectivity Program now can find more information online at https://www.fcc.gov/acp or by calling 877-384-2575.
Offering affordable internet service will go a long way toward increasing subscriptions and making internet service sustainable for everyone in the Mahoosuc area.
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