Spectrum, a brand of Charter Communications, serves more than 32 million customers in 41 states throughout the United States, many of which are eligible to receive discounts on their broadband internet connectivity service through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
In total, customers of Spectrum Internet can receive a discount of $30 every month through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) for the next two years. While those households residing on Tribal lands can receive subsidies of $75 per month, over the same time period.
We explain how you, as a Spectrum Internet customer, can use the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to get internet service for free or lower your monthly bill. Additionally, we detail how you can apply, in just two steps, and who qualifies for the ACP program.
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) for Spectrum?
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program which provides low-income customers, such as those of Spectrum Internet, with a subsidy on their monthly internet service. Specifically, eligible households using Spectrum Internet could receive the following benefits:
- Discount of up to $30 per month on your Spectrum Internet service
- Discount of up to $75 per month on your Spectrum Internet service, if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
Spectrum Internet 100 – Internet Service for Free
Spectrum Internet offers a specific plan, known as Spectrum Internet 100, under the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households download speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 20 Mbps, for $29.99 per month. At 100 Mbps download speeds, your internet connection will be fast enough for a typical family of 4 to video conference, stream movies, or TV shows.
As a Spectrum Internet customer enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, you can switch to this $29.99 per month offering and have a $30 monthly credit automatically applied toward your bill, meaning you receive service for free, until the program ends. In terms of timing, after you have enrolled in the program with Spectrum Internet, your Affordable Connectivity Program credit will be applied to your current bill cycle and will appear on your next bill statement.
Under the Affordable Connectivity Program, the Spectrum Internet 100 service includes a modem, in-home Wi-Fi, and self-installation at no additional charge. Also, it is worth noting that you will be responsible for charges over $30 per month and that the promotion price currently lasts for a period of 2 years.
Other Spectrum Internet Plans – Lower Your Bill
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefit can be applied to all existing Spectrum Internet plans, at any time, while the program is ongoing. For example, this means that if you are an eligible household paying $49.99 per month, on a plan with higher speeds (e.g., 300 Mbps download), then you can still use the $30 monthly credit to lower your bill payment to be only $19.99 per month.
Additionally, the credit can be applied to Spectrum Internet, as a standalone broadband service, or to a bundle of services including broadband, telephone, texting, and the rental fee on the equipment that enables the service, such as a modem.
Connected Devices
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) also offers a one-time discount of up to $100 for connected devices like a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer, with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50. Notably, a household can only buy one of these discounted devices. Additionally, there is no discount on smartphones, while the connected device must be Wi-Fi enabled and support video conferencing.
Unfortunately, per the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website at fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program-providers, Spectrum, which is part of Charter Communications, is not one of the providers offering discounted connected devices.
How to Apply for Spectrum’s Affordable Connectivity Program
Current Spectrum Internet customers should follow these two steps to receive their Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefit:
- Step 1: apply to receive a monthly credit with the Affordable Connectivity Program through the National Verifier at affordableconnectivity.gov or directly through the form by clicking here
- Step 2: call Spectrum Internet customer service at 877-959-1748 or 844-815-8926. Alternatively, you can complete Spectrum’s online application form at spectrum.net/support/forms/affordable_connectivity_program to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program
If you complete Step 2 through the online application form, you will receive verification of your status for the Affordable Connectivity Program by e-mail.
Who Qualifies for Spectrum’s Affordable Connectivity Program?
Spectrum Internet households are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) if one member of the household meets any one of the following criteria:
1) Household Income
If your household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This means that, based on your household size (left column), your household income must be below the following (right columns) figures:
Federal (HHS) Poverty Guidelines at 200%
| Household Size | 48 Contiguous States | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $27,180 | $33,980 | $31,260 |
| 2 | $36,620 | $45,780 | $42,120 |
| 3 | $46,060 | $57,580 | $52,980 |
| 4 | $55,500 | $69,380 | $63,840 |
| 5 | $64,940 | $81,180 | $74,700 |
| 6 | $74,380 | $92,980 | $85,560 |
| 7 | $83,820 | $104,780 | $96,420 |
| 8 | $93,260 | $116,580 | $107,280 |
| For each additional person, add: | $9,440 | $11,800 | $10,860 |
2) Federal Assistance Programs
If you receive benefits under any of the following federal assistance programs:
- Lifeline program
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools
- Federal Pell Grant (received in the current award year)
3) Internet Service Provider (ISP) Criteria
If you meet the eligibility criteria for one of Spectrum’s existing low-income internet programs, such as Spectrum Internet Assist.
4) Tribal Assistance Programs
If a household is located on Tribal lands, it is eligible if at least one person in the household participates in Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF), Head Start, or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.
Background on the Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and it replaced the previous U.S. government initiative, known as the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. In terms of funding, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has supported the Affordable Connectivity Program with $14.2 billion.
On May 9, 2022, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced that they had secured commitments from 20 internet service providers (ISPs), including Spectrum (Charter Communications), to lower high-speed internet costs for U.S. consumers.
Enrollment and Claims – Affordable Connectivity Program
According to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), there are over 12.6 million households across the United States who have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Furthermore, experts estimate that 48 million households, or nearly 40% of households in the country, qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program. Therefore, to-date only 26% of qualifying households in the United States are using the benefits of the Affordable Connectivity Program.
