What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program (or ACP) is a government assistance program by the FCC designed to help low-income households pay for broadband services and internet-connected devices.
The program offers a subsidy to help eligible households afford internet services. Eligible households can receive a discount of up to $30 ($75 on qualifying Tribal lands) on monthly broadband services. Certain ACP providers also offer a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a connected device (tablet, laptop, or desktop computer). To receive this device discount, the customer must pay a co-pay of more than $10 and less than $50, depending on the provider.
Does Suddenlink Participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program?
Suddenlink Communications is an American telecommunications subsidiary of Altice USA. It offers cable TV, broadband services, IP telephony, home security, advertising, and more. Suddenlink is also one of the many proud Affordable Connectivity Program providers.
Suddenlink ACP-eligible customers can receive a monthly credit of up to $30 a month for internet services. This benefit is available to both current and new Suddenlink customers. However, Suddenlink is not one of those ACP providers that also offer discounts on connected devices.
Suddenlink first participated in the now-expired Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), which was established in response to the pandemic and was ACP’s predecessor. As the EBB program has proven to be vital for so many Americans, the government has decided to modify and extend the program, creating the new ACP program with similar benefits. As of December 31, 2021, Suddenlink no longer participates in the EBB program, as it expired, instead, it offers similar ACP discounts.
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In Which States is Suddenlink ACP Offered?
Suddenlink is a nationwide ACP provider that offers its ACP discounts on monthly broadband services to eligible households in many U.S. states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Do I Qualify For Suddenlink ACP?
ACP-eligibility criteria are determined by the FCC, therefore the criteria are universal for all ACP providers. Households can qualify for the Suddenlink Affordable Connectivity Program if a member of the household meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Has an annual household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Participates in a qualifying government assistance program, such as:
- Lifeline
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; formerly known as Food Stamps)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Participates in a qualifying Tribal assistance program, such as:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- Tribal Head Start
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
- Receives free or reduced-price school lunch or breakfast through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
- Enrolled in a school that offers free school breakfast and lunch to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
- Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year.
Note: Only one ACP benefit is available per eligible household. The benefit cannot be transferred to another individual or household even if they qualify. However, the benefit can be transferred to another provider. If eligible households disqualify, de-enroll, transfer their benefit to another provider without canceling service, or if the program ends, they will be subject to Suddenlink’s undiscounted rates and general terms and conditions.
Documents Needed to Apply for Suddenlink ACP
In order to apply for Suddenlink ACP, you will be required to prove your ACP eligibility. The provider will try to verify certain information automatically, however, if it is unable to verify your identity, address, or your eligibility, you may be required to provide certain documentation.
Depending on your eligibility criteria, you may be asked to submit some of the following documents:
- To show your identity, you may be asked to submit an official document that includes your full legal name and date of birth. Qualifying document examples include 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 confirm your physical address (which is important as only residents of the states where Suddenlink offers its services are eligible to apply), you may be required to submit an official document that includes your full name and current physical address. Document examples include a passport, ID, driver’s license, utility bill, mortgage or lease statement, most recent W-2 or tax return, etc.
- To prove your income-based eligibility, you may be required to show proof of income that includes your full name and annual income. Document examples include a prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return, paycheck stubs, current income statement from your employer, Social Security statement of benefits, Veterans Administration statement of benefits, Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits, divorce decree, child support award, a retirement/pension statement of benefits, etc.
- To prove your participation in a qualifying government benefit program, you may be required to submit an official document that includes your full name, the name of the program, the name of the establishment that issued the document, and an issue date within the last 12 months. Document examples include an approval letter, a benefit verification letter, a benefit award letter, a statement of benefits, school documentation, etc.
In addition, as only people who are 18 years old or more and emancipated minors can apply, you may be required to verify your age or your emancipated minor status. Emancipated minors must therefore provide an official document proving their emancipated minor status, such as a court document or a certificate or emancipation.
The Suddenlink ACP application process will allow you to submit your supporting documents online. However, you can also send them via mail. Make sure to never submit originals. Instead, submit copies made with a copy machine, scanner, camera, or smartphone.
How to Apply for Suddenlink ACP?
To apply for Suddenlink ACP and receive free internet, you must simply follow the quick and easy steps below:
- Step 1: Make sure that you are Suddenlink ACP-eligible. You can get verified at acpbenefit.org. Make sure that the person who gets verified is the Suddenlink account owner.
- Step 2: If you are not a Suddenlink customer yet, you must get Suddenlink internet service. You can shop for plans at order.suddenlink.com/Buyflow/Storefront. If you are already a customer, you can move on to the next step.
- Step 3: If you are already approved by the National Verifier for the Affordable Connectivity Program (step 1) and a Suddenlink customer (step 2), you can enroll in the Suddenlink ACP at solixconsulting.force.com/AlticeBroadbandACP. Fill out the online application form by providing all the required information and documentation. Once approved, you will be able to use your benefit to save on your internet services. Your credit will appear within two billing cycles.
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Suddenlink ACP Plans and Benefits
Suddenlink is a proud ACP participant and as such, eligible customers may receive free internet.
ACP-eligible Suddenlink customers can receive a discount of up to $30 on monthly internet broadband services.
The following Suddenlink internet plans are fully covered by the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit:
- Gig Internet Markets:
- Internet 100 or Internet 200 (Bring your own modem)
- Internet 100 (Enrolled in Autopay)
- 400 Mbps Internet Markets:
- Internet 50 or Internet 100 (Bring your own modem)
- Internet 50 (Enrolled in Autopay)
- 150 Mbps Internet Markets:
- Internet 50 or Internet 75 (Bring your own modem)
- Internet 50 (Enrolled in Autopay)
- Up to 50 Mbps Internet Markets:
- Tier 1 (Up to 15 Mbps) or Tier 2 (Up to 30 Mbps) (Bring your own modem)
- Tier 1 (Up to 15 Mbps) (Enrolled in Autopay)
These plans are available at no charge. Speed and offer availability vary by area.
Read more about the Suddenlink ACP free internet at suddenlink.com/affordable-connectivity-program.
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Are There Any Suddenlink ACP Rules and Restrictions?
All ACP programs from all providers, including Suddenlink, come with a list of rules and restrictions, which must be followed for the customer to keep receiving the benefits. These restrictions include:
- The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount.
- Only ACP-eligible households can receive the benefits.
- The ACP benefit is non-transferable (cannot be transferred to other households or household members, even if eligible).
- The ACP benefits may be obtained from any participating provider of your choosing.
- In order to continue receiving your ACP benefits, you must use them at least once every 30 days (make one phone call, send one text message, use data, or purchase minutes).
- In case you are no longer ACP-eligible, you must report it to the provider within 30 days.
- If you disqualify, de-enroll, transfer your benefit to another provider without canceling service, or if the program ends, you will be subject to Suddenlink’s undiscounted rates and general terms and conditions.
Suddenlink ACP Related FAQs
Does Suddenlink ACP Offer Free Connected Devices?
While Suddenlink offers discounts of up to $30 ($75 on qualifying Tribal lands) on monthly internet services, it does not offer discounts on connected devices. The company does not offer any free desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones.
Can I Switch to Another ACP Provider?
Yes. Eligible consumers can receive ACP benefits from any provider and they can switch their benefits to another provider at any time. Nevertheless, it is only possible to receive one ACP benefit from one provider at a time.
What Happened to the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit program has expired and was replaced by the new Affordable Connectivity Program. Households that were enrolled in the Suddenlink EBB program have transitioned to ACP if they still qualify. As the eligibility criteria for EBB and ACP are almost the same, most former EBB customers also tend to qualify for the ACP. Those EBB customers who needed to take additional steps to retain their benefits received further information.
What Changed From the EBB Program to the ACP Program?
The most noticeable difference between the now-expired EBB program and the new ACP program is that the maximum monthly benefit changed from $50 to $30 for eligible non-Tribal households. In addition, certain eligibility criteria changed. Households that experienced a substantial loss of income due to the pandemic, no longer automatically qualify. On the other hand, households receiving Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are now eligible and so are households with an annual income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
