[1st-mile-nm] Fwd: 1–2–3 Low Cost Internet!

[Nan Rubin]

Please distribute this information as you feel appropriate. This is not a
new program, but it is definitely worth promoting in our region. I am happy
to provide some assistance if you need It.
.
Best,
Nan Rubin

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kevin Taglang <headlines at benton.org>
Date: Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 5:55 AM
Subject: 1–2–3 Low Cost Internet!
To: <rubinnan at gmail.com>


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1–2–3 Low Cost Internet!
[image: Benton Institute for Broadband & Society]
<https://benton.org?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>

Monday, June 13, 2022
Digital Beat 1–2–3 Low Cost Internet!

[image: United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry]

The United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry teamed up with our civil
rights allies in 2021 and successfully persuaded Congress to adopt a new
program that helps low-income households pay for high-speed internet. Now
that Congress has acted, our biggest challenge is publicizing the program.
Families and individuals need to hear from trusted members of their own
communities to learn more — people like you! Learn more about the new
Affordable Connectivity Program and how you can help.

We were so excited to spread the word about this program at the United
Church of Christ’s weekly Thursdays for the Soul webinar series, you can
get caught up quickly by watching the recording
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBckobYqGdg&utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email>
and
downloading our toolkit
<https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6587/images/Love%20Your%20Neighbors%20Get%20Them%20Internet%20Toolkit%20June%202022.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid>
.
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal program designed to
help low-income households pay for broadband internet service. Once an
eligible household completes an application and is approved, it will
receive a discount of up to $30 per month off its bill for mobile or home
broadband internet services (up to $75 per month for households on tribal
lands). The federal funds go directly to the service provider to cover the
discount. In some cases, the subsidy will completely cover the cost of the
internet service.

[image: Boy using a computer at home.]
Who Is Eligible?

You are eligible for ACP if *anyone in your household*:

   - Receives certain income-based federal benefits such as *SNAP* (food
   stamps), *Supplemental Security Income (SSI),* federal *public
housing* assistance
   or *Medicaid *benefits;
   - Receives Women’s Infants and Children (*WIC*) nutrition program
   benefits or qualifies for the *free and reduced-price school lunch* or
   breakfast programs;
   - Received a federal *Pell Grant* during the current school year;
   - Participates in other programs, including tribal and veterans programs
   <https://acpbenefit.org/do-i-qualify/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters#other-programs>.
   Call the FCC at 877–384–2575 or visit www.getinternet.gov
   <http://www.getinternet.gov/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>
to
   find out if you are eligible.

[image: Save up to $30/month on your internet bill]
How Can I Apply?

   - Call 877–384–2575 to request an application or to get more
   information, or go directly to ACPBenefit.org
   <https://acpbenefit.org/?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email>
to
   apply.
   - Work with your local internet company to apply — major companies like
   Comcast
   <https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/acp?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email>
    (Xfinity), Charter
   <https://www.spectrum.com/cp/broadband-get-qualified?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email>
    (Spectrum), AT&T
   <https://www.att.com/help/affordable-connectivity-program/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid>
   , Verizon
   <https://www.verizon.com/home/promo/affordable-connectivity-program/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>
    and T-Mobile
   <https://www.t-mobile.com/news/offers/t-mobile-brings-the-federal-affordable-connectivity-program-to-more-customers-with-free-wireless-service-at-metro-by-t-mobile?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>
are
   participating and can help you get connected. Find more participating
   providers at https://acpbenefit.org/companies-near-me/
   <https://acpbenefit.org/companies-near-me/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>
   .

What Else Should I Know?

   - Owing money to your provider does not prevent you from participating.
   A company cannot use a credit check to keep you out of the basic ACP
   program.
   - You can choose any product the company offers or you can apply the
   discount to your existing plan.
   - You do not have to pay any early-termination fees.
   - You can keep your service even if you are up to 90 days late in paying
   a bill.

[image: Thursdays for the Soul webinar.]


*Spread the Word!*

UCC Media Justice is encouraging UCC churches, conferences, associations
and individual members — and our friends throughout the faith and
humanitarian communities — to help spread the word by distributing and
posting the flyer found at the end of this blog. The flyer includes the
phone numbers of government staff members who can help households sign up. *If
you take these steps, let us know! Post on social media using #GetInternet
or #UCCMediaJustice or **email us*
<cleanza at alhmail.com?subject=**ACP%20activity%20report!>*.*
1. Share copies of the flyer through direct service projects or with other
organizations who serve low-income people.

   - Does your church run a soup kitchen? Hand out copies at dinner. Do you
   volunteer at a food pantry? Put copies of the flyer in bags of groceries.
   Volunteering at a community event or homeless shelter? Bring flyers and
   help people understand what the program is about.
   - Support interested people in person by helping them with your phone or
   computer to go online to apply or to learn more.
   - Distribute the flyers at your church or community events, or post them
   on local bulletin boards.
   - Are you raising funds for a local group or people in need? Ask if you
   can also send along copies of flyers for them to distribute.

2. Use these outreach resources to share this program with others. These
include social media, newsletter articles, additional flyers and more.

   - Federal Communications Commission
   <https://www.fcc.gov/acp-consumer-outreach-toolkit?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>
   - Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
   <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QSurfK-T3nqD-pCH732WAdSBO7tFDlno0eTY_BUqo8c/edit?usp=sharing&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>

3. Take the next step and host a meeting, discussion, or outreach session.

   - You can send an email to invite speakers from UCC Media Justice
   <cleanza at alhmail.com?subject=**ACP%20Speaker%20request**>, the Federal
   Communications Commission
   <ACPspeakers at fcc.gov%20%3cACPspeakers at fcc.gov%3e;?subject=ACP%20speaker%20request>
or
   your local community. For example, libraries, schools or members of
the National
   Digital Inclusion Alliance
   <https://www.digitalinclusion.org/affiliates/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>
may
   have someone local to come and speak about digital literacy and the ACP.

Download a copy of the UCC Love Your Neighbors: Get Them Internet toolkit.
<https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6587/images/Love%20Your%20Neighbors%20Get%20Them%20Internet%20Toolkit%20June%202022.pdf?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>
------------------------------

*This article originally appeared on Medium
<https://uccmediajustice.medium.com/1-2-3-low-cost-internet-76ec4298a28a?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email>.
It is reprinted here with permission of the United Church of Christ Media
Justice Ministry
<http://www.uccmediajustice.org/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters>*


The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization
dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to
competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or
who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of
access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities
and strengthen communities.
------------------------------

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[image: Kevin Taglang]

Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-328-3040
headlines AT benton DOT org

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