ACP timeline
December 31, 2021
ACP replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit, offering up to $30/month off internet ($75 on Tribal lands) plus a one-time $100 device discount.
2022–2023
Enrollment grows to roughly 23 million households nationwide. In Massachusetts, 96 companies are listed as participating providers.
February 7, 2024
New enrollments stop because the program's funding is running out.
April – May 2024
April is the last month with the full benefit. May bills receive a partial discount at most.
June 1, 2024
The ACP officially ends. Former ACP customers are billed the provider's regular rate unless they change plans.
What former ACP households in Fall River should do now
- 1Check your bill. Make sure you're on a plan you can afford now that the discount is gone. You can downgrade or cancel without an ACP-related penalty.
- 2See if you qualify for Lifeline. It's smaller than the ACP (up to $9.25/month) but still active, and many wireless Lifeline plans cost $0. Lifeline guide for Fall River.
- 3Ask your provider about low-income plans. Many internet companies run their own discounted plans for households on SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or school meals, often around $10–$30 a month.
- 4Compare offers by ZIP code with EveryoneOn, a nonprofit locator for low-cost internet plans, devices and digital-skills classes by ZIP code.
Switching from ACP to Lifeline
Lifeline is the older federal program the ACP was modeled on, and it was not affected by ACP's shutdown. It takes up to $9.25 a month off internet or a phone-and-internet bundle, or up to $34.25 on Tribal lands. You can combine it with a provider's own low-income plan in many cases.
If you already have Lifeline through your current provider, nothing changed for that discount. If you don't, apply at LifelineSupport.org or with one of the 7 Lifeline providers in Massachusetts.
Who qualifies now vs. under ACP
Lifeline's income limit is lower than the ACP's was. Here are both for Massachusetts, based on the 2026 poverty guidelines.
| Household size | Lifeline (135%) — active | ACP (200%) — ended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $21,546 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $29,214 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $36,882 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $44,550 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $52,218 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $59,886 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $67,554 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $75,222 | $111,440 |
Program-based eligibility also narrowed: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance and the Veterans Pension still qualify you for Lifeline, but WIC, Pell Grants and free or reduced-price school meals, which counted for ACP, do not.
Other low-cost internet options in Fall River
- Provider low-income plans. Large cable, fiber and wireless companies offer discounted plans for qualifying households. Eligibility usually mirrors SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or National School Lunch participation.
- Prepaid mobile plans. Unlimited-talk prepaid plans with a hotspot can cost less than home internet for light users.
- Public Wi-Fi and hotspot lending. Libraries, community centers and some transit systems offer free Wi-Fi, and many Massachusetts libraries lend hotspots.
- State and local programs. Massachusetts's broadband office and local digital-equity groups sometimes fund discounts or free service in specific neighborhoods or housing developments.
Former ACP providers in Massachusetts
96 companies were listed as ACP providers in Massachusetts: 65 mobile and 31 home internet providers, 56 of which offered the device discount. Most still serve customers and many have their own low-income plans.
Showing 60 of 96. See the full list.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Affordable Connectivity Program still available in Fall River?
No. The ACP stopped accepting new applications on February 7, 2024 and ended nationwide on June 1, 2024 after Congress did not provide additional funding. No household in Fall River can enroll or receive the ACP discount today.
What happened to my ACP discount?
April 2024 was the last month with the full $30 discount, May 2024 bills received a partial discount at most, and service since June 2024 has been billed at the provider's regular price unless you switched to a different plan. You can change plans or cancel without an ACP-related penalty.
What replaced the ACP?
There is no direct federal replacement. The Lifeline program still provides up to $9.25 a month (up to $34.25 on Tribal lands), and many internet providers run their own low-income plans. 7 Lifeline providers serve Massachusetts.
I had ACP. Do I qualify for Lifeline?
Possibly. Lifeline's rules are stricter than ACP's: income must be at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines (ACP allowed 200%), and Pell Grants, WIC and school meals do not qualify on their own. If you get SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, public housing assistance or a VA pension, you qualify.
Will the ACP come back?
Bills to restore ACP funding have been introduced in Congress, but as of our October 2026 review none had become law. Be cautious of anyone claiming to enroll you in the ACP today.
Which companies participated in the ACP in Massachusetts?
96 companies were listed as ACP providers in Massachusetts, including 65 mobile and 31 home internet providers. 56 of them also offered the device discount. Many still offer low-income or prepaid plans.
More help in Fall River
- Lifeline phone & internet in Fall River
- Free government phones in Fall River
- Free government tablets in Fall River
- Free government iPads in Fall River
- Free government laptops in Fall River
- Unemployment benefits in Fall River
Nearby cities in Massachusetts
Official sources & contacts
- LifelineSupport.org – apply, check status, recertify (USAC)
- Do I qualify? – official eligibility rules
- Documents needed – acceptable proof
- Companies Near Me – providers by address
- Tribal benefit – enhanced support on Tribal lands
- HHS poverty guidelines – basis for income limits
- Lifeline Support Center: 1-800-234-9473 or LifelineSupport@usac.org