Brightspeed Covers $30 Subsidy for ACP Recipients

If you’re a Brightspeed ACP customer, you’re in luck! Millions of other recipients of the Affordable Connectivity Program are set to lose their benefits next month, but Brightspeed isn’t letting prices budge.

That’s because Brightspeed is offering a monthly $30 credit to former ACP recipients, without the help of taxpayer funds. In other words, Brightspeed ACP customers won’t see price increases regardless of what the U.S. Congress decides.

Unfortunately, the $30 discount from Brightspeed is not available to anyone who didn’t sign up for the ACP benefit by February of 2024.

Read on for more info about the ACP and a quick look at the cheapest plans for new Brightspeed customers. We’ll also cover Brightspeed alternatives and other ways to save.

What happens when the ACP ends?

The ACP paid internet companies $30 per month for each customer enrolled in the program, resulting in a $30 credit on that customer’s bill. April of 2024 was the last month the program was fully funded. In May, the program sent partial payments. In June, the ACP money will be gone.

For most ACP recipients around the country, that has meant either paying the difference or having their internet shut off. If you were lucky enough to have Brightspeed while on the ACP, though, you won’t see an immediate difference in your bill.

It’s worth noting that we don’t know how long Brightspeed will offer the $30 credits for former ACP recipients. That said, Brightspeed told us the company might offer new plans for lower-income folks in the future.

Alternatives to the ACP

Internet service that’s completely free is hard to come by without the ACP, but there is another federally funded program that could help. It’s called Lifeline, and it offers a subsidy for either home internet service or phone service. Eligible customers can get a $9.25 discount on their bills (or up to $34.25 on Tribal lands).

To qualify, apply through the National Verifier System. You’ll need to prove eligibility for one of the following:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Medicaid
• Tribal Programs for Native Americans

Once you’re approved, choose a provider (such as Brightspeed) and order service.

Find local resources at the library

If you don’t qualify for Lifeline and missed out on the ACP, don’t lose help! There may be other ways to find free and low-cost internet near you.

We recommend checking for local or state aid programs by visiting your local library. You can get online on computers at the branch itself and may be able to check out a tablet or mobile hotspot. Better yet, librarians are trained in helping patrons access aid programs, so they’ll probably know about any state or local initiatives that help lower-income folks get online.

Other providers with low-income programs

Brightspeed offers DSL and fiber internet in 20 states, and that means it has a long list of competitors. The alternatives available to you will depend on your exact address, but here are some of Brightspeed’s biggest competitors that offer cheap or subsidized internet service:

• Spectrum Internet Assist
• CenturyLink
• AT&T Access

Other plan options from Brightspeed

The ACP subsidy was available for any Brightspeed plan with download speeds of at least 25Mbps. That means if you were getting the ACP on any plan, you’ll get the new Brightspeed discount instead.

If you didn’t apply for the ACP in time, you’ll have to pay standard prices for Brightspeed. The prices are so-so, but we like that there are no contracts or data overage fees on any plan.

We’re also impressed with how Brightspeed is bringing fiber internet to homes and businesses throughout its footprint. If you’ve been stuck with DSL or satellite for years, you’ll be amazed at the speed and reliability you get from Brightspeed fiber.

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Additional resources

We applaud Brightseed’s commitment to providing $30 per month for lower income folks who had been using the ACP subsidy, and we hope to see it continue.

If you didn’t get in before applications closed, you still deserve great internet at an affordable price! Browse the following articles from our expert library to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

• Government Programs To Make Internet Service More Affordable
• How To Get Free and Low-Cost Internet
• Best Internet Deals
• Best Internet Plans and Discounts for Seniors
• Best Internet Plans and Discounts for Students
• Best Internet for Veterans and Military Families
• Rural Internet Providers
• The End of the ACP