What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP is a new government assistance program created by Congress and managed by the FCC, designed to make the internet more affordable and to help low-income people afford broadband services.
It offers discounts on monthly broadband services of up to $30 ($75 for eligible households on qualifying Tribal lands). Some ACP providers also offer a one-time discount on connected devices (tablets, laptops, or desktop computers) if the customer pays a co-pay of more than $10 and less than $50.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a program that has replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), which was established in response to the pandemic and offered similar discounts and benefits. As the EBB has proven to be so useful for so many citizens, the program was replaced with the permanent ACP program on December 31, 2021.
Can I Get CenturyLink ACP Benefits if I Am Already Getting CenturyLink EBB?
Before the CenturyLink Emergency Broadband Benefit became the CenturyLink Affordable Connectivity Program on December 31, 2021, CenturyLink customers were able to participate in the CenturyLink EBB.
If you signed up for CenturyLink EBB prior to December 31, 2021, you continued to receive your EBB monthly discounts until March 1, 2022. As of March 1, 2022, you are no longer able to receive the CenturyLink EBB discounts, as the EBB program has expired. However, you can receive the new ACP benefit instead.
How Do I Transfer My CenturyLink to EBB Benefit ACP?
As most EBB and ACP eligibility criteria are the same, the majority of EBB subscribers got automatically enrolled in the new ACP program. If the company determined that you are ACP-eligible, your monthly benefit amount changed from up to $50 (maximal EBB discount) to up to $30 (maximal ACP discount). Eligible Tribal households, on the other hand, continued to receive the same monthly benefit of up to $75.
In case you were or are required to take any action to receive the ACP benefit after March 1, CenturyLink surely notified you. For example, households that qualified for the EBB due to a substantial loss of income after job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020, due to the pandemic, will need to re-qualify for the CenturyLink ACP. In case you were EBB eligible but do not qualify for the ACP program, the provider also notified you about it. In case you have any questions or if you wish to make changes to your services, make sure to contact CenturyLink’s customer service.
What are the Qualification Procedures for CenturyLink ACP for Newbies?
As the Affordable Connectivity Program eligibility criteria are determined by the FCC and universal for all ACP providers, CenturyLink ACP qualification procedures for both new and existing customers are the same. The only difference is that former CenturyLink EBB subscribers may automatically receive the new ACP benefits, while customers who did not participate in the CenturyLink EBB or ACP previously, must apply to receive the discount.
Your household is CenturyLink ACP eligible if your annual household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Your household is also CenturyLink ACP eligible if you or any of your household members meet any of the following criteria:
- Participates in certain government assistance programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps), Medicaid, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, or Lifeline. Note: If you are already a Lifeline subscriber, you automatically qualify for CenturyLink ACP.
- Participates in certain Tribal assistance programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard).
- Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.
What Documents are Required for the CenturyLink ACP?
To participate in the CenturyLink ACP program, you must be ACP-eligible and you must prove your eligibility. You can prove your eligibility by providing the provider with official documents that verify that you qualify.
Depending on your eligibility criteria, you may have to prove your household income or your government assistance program participation.
Household Income Documentation
If you qualify due to your household income, you will have to provide an official document that proves that your household annual income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The documentation must include your (or the dependent’s) full legal name and annual income.
Eligible documents include:
- Previous year’s federal, state, or Tribal tax return
- Recent income statement from your employer or a paycheck stub
- A Social Security statement of benefits
- Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits
- Child support award, divorce decree, or a similar official document indicating your income
- A retirement/pension statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
Qualifying Government Assistance Program Participation Documentation
If you qualify due to your (or your dependent’s) participation in a qualifying government assistance program, you will have to provide an official document that proves this participation. The documentation must include your (or your dependent’s) full legal name, the name of the qualifying program, the name of the government, program administrator, Tribal entity, university, school, school district, or college that provided the document, and an issuance date within the last 12 months or a future expiration date.
For the Free and Reduced Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, documents can be from the 2019-20, 2020-21, or 2021-22 academic year. For USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools, documents must show that the student participated or participates in a CEP School for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school years. For Federal Pell Grants, documents must include the current academic year.
Eligible documents include:
- Benefit award letter
- Benefit verification letter
- Approval letter
- Statement of benefits
- Screenshots of a StudentAid.gov dashboard (for Federal Pell Grants)
- A report card that bears the student’s name and the school or a form showing that the student participates in the CEP school (for USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools.
In addition, you may be required to verify your identity or your address.
To show your identity, you may be required to submit an official document that includes your full legal name and date of birth, such as a passport, a valid government, military, state, or Tribal ID, U.S. driver’s license, birth certificate, Green Card or Permanent Resident Card, Certificate of U.S. Citizenship or Naturalization, etc.
To verify your physical address, you may be asked to submit an official document that includes your full name and current physical address, such as a passport, ID, driver’s license, utility bill, mortgage or lease statement, most recent W-2 or tax return, etc.
Moreover, as only people who are 18 or more years old and emancipated minors can participate, emancipated minors will have to provide an official document that shows their emancipated minor status, such as a court document or a certificate of emancipation.
Where to Apply for the CenturyLink ACP?
You can complete the entire CenturyLink ACP application online, from the comfort of your own home. You can do so in two simple steps:
- Step 1: Complete the USCA ACP eligibility verification at acpbenefit.org/how-to-apply. The National Verifier will determine whether or not you are ACP eligible. Complete the form by providing the required information and documentation. Make sure to use the same information as for the primary holder of your CenturyLink account.
- Step 2: Apply for the CenturyLink ACP at centurylink.com/relief. Do so by providing the required information and documentation. Once you have submitted the form, the provider will send you a confirmation email and notice of approval or instructions on how to get approved (if needed). Afterward, the discount will be applied to your account.
In case you have any questions, you can contact CenturyLink’s customer support service or the FCC.
In case you also need information How to Qualify for Affordable Connectivity Program Xfinity
What are the Benefits if I Qualify for CenturyLink ACP?
Unlike some other ACP providers, CenturyLink does not provide one-time discounts on connected devices (tablets, laptops, or desktop computers).
However, the provider does offer a discount of up to $30 a month (or up to $75 per month for Tribal households) toward a household’s internet bill.
CenturyLink offers several affordable internet plans, all of which offer high-speed internet that supports all of your online needs. CenturyLink plans include:
1. CenturyLink High-Speed Internet
CenturyLink offers an internet plan with internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps for $50 a month. It uses DSL fast and reliable broadband, which is available to 90% of American households. As DSL utilizes existing copper telephone cables to transmit data, it doesn’t need additional equipment.
2. Fastest CenturyLink Speed
Fiber Gigabit plan costs $64 a month and offers a maximum download and upload speed of up to 940 Mbps through a wired connection. The internet travels on a fiber network, which gives it such high speeds. To get this plan with a discount, you can choose a bundled TV and internet package.
See some of the CenturyLink internet plans and options at centurylink.com/internet.
You can read one of our past articles How to Qualify for Spectrum Affordable Connectivity Program
CenturyLink ACP Related FAQs
How Do I Know if I Qualify for the CenturyLink ACP?
You can know by checking the ACP eligibility criteria above or by applying with the National Verifier.
What if I Have Internet and Home Phone Service From CenturyLink?
If you have internet and home phone service from CenturyLink, your ACP discount will be applied to the internet charges on your monthly service. However, if you are ACP-eligible, you may also be Lifeline-eligible, and in this case, you can also receive a discount on your phone service.
Is There a Minimum Speed Requirement to Get the Discount?
No, the ACP doesn’t have a minimum speed requirement.
Can Anyone Get the Benefits?
No, only ACP-eligible customers can apply. In addition, the ACP benefit is limited to one per eligible household.
Can My Roommate and I Each Get the Benefits?
No, the ACP benefit is limited to one per eligible household.
When the Benefits Program Ends, Will My Service End Too?
CenturyLink encourages customers to continue using its services even after the program ends. You can choose to opt-in or opt-out during the ACP application process. However, the ACP program is a long-term program, therefore, it should not end any time soon.
How Do I Know When the Benefits End?
As the ACP is a long-term program, it will not end soon. However, if it ends or if eligibility criteria change, you will be notified by your provider.
Can I Participate in the CenturyLink ACP if I Already Receive a Lifeline Discount?
Yes. Moreover, Lifeline subscribers are automatically qualified for the ACP. However, being a Lifeline subscriber does not automatically enroll you in the ACP. Instead, you will have to complete the CenturyLink ACP application at centurylink.com/relief.
In Which States is CenturyLink ACP Offered?
CenturyLink is a nationwide provider that offers ACP benefits in many U.S. states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.