The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced that applications are now open for a $5 million “Your Home, Your Internet” pilot program to increase awareness of, and encourage participation in, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) for households receiving federal housing assistance.

Grants made by the program can be used for ACP application assistance, digital campaigns, outreach materials, direct mail, ACP service provider locators, and personnel and benefits needed to encourage participation in target communities. While nonprofits cannot apply on their own for the grants, affordable senior housing providers are encouraged to partner with state and local agencies – including their local public housing agency – who may be submitting as a lead applicant.

Your Home, Your Internet grant applications are due Jan. 9, 2023 and can cover activities undertaken between March 2023 and March 2024. Apply for the grant.

About ACP

The ACP is a $14.2 billion FCC program that helps ensure that qualifying low-income households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The effort aligns with LeadingAge CAST’s Technology and Telehealth policy goals to advocate for broadband access in rural areas and affordable housing.

The ACP benefit 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 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 for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the following criteria:

• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year,
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program,
• Participates in certain assistance programs, or
• Participates in certain assistance programs and lives on Qualifying Tribal lands.