Affordable Connectivity Program FAQ

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP?

The ACP is a government benefit program operated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that is designed to make broadband more affordable for struggling households. The ACP provides discounts of up to $30 per eligible household on monthly broadband Internet access service (or up to $75 per eligible household on Tribal lands) and up to $100 on certain connected devices (with a required co-pay of between $10 and $50). ACP services and devices are subject to consumer eligibility, provider participation, product availability, and  approval by the FCC and its ACP program administrator, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The ACP was launched on December 31, 2021, and replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. Subscribers enrolled in the EBB as of December 31, 2021 may keep their EBB benefit for 60 days and must transition to the ACP on March 1, 2022, if eligible.

Who is eligible for ACP discounts on broadband service?

A household is eligible to receive an ACP discount if a member of the household meets one of the following criteria:

  • Has an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level;
  • Receives benefits from: Medicaid/Medi-Cal, SNAP/Cal-Fresh, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, WIC, or Lifeline;
  • Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program; or
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.

ACP eligibility will be determined by USAC’s National Verifier and National Lifeline Accountability Database or an alternative verification process approved by the FCC.

What rules apply to me when I participate in the program?

Only eligible consumers may receive ACP discounts. The ACP monthly service and device discounts cannot be transferred to another household or individual. An eligible household is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount.

Can I choose my ACP provider?

The ACP benefit may be obtained from any participating provider of your choosing and your monthly service benefit may be transferred to another provider at any time.

What service plans does Ready Wireless offer with the ACP discount?

You can apply your ACP discount to any available Ready Wireless service plan. Service plans are posted on Ready Wireless’s website at acp.readywireless.com. The current Ready Wireless FREE ACP service plan comes with Unlimited Talk & Text (with initial allotments of 3,000 voice minutes and 3,000 text messages) + 5.5GB Data. You may get an unlimited amount of additional Talk and Text allotments for the remainder of the monthly period by contacting Ready Wireless Customer Care at rwebbsupport@readywireless.com.

For additional information about our network management practices, broadband performance, and commercial terms, visit https://acp.readywireless.com/internet-transparency-statement.

“High speed” means up to 1 Mbps. After monthly data allowance is used, data service will be suspended until the start of the next monthly period. Video typically streams in SD (480p). [Insert hotspot disclosure, if applicable.] Data usage subject to our Acceptable Use Policy, available in our terms and conditions. For additional information about broadband speeds, including network limitations, visit https://acp.readywireless.com/internet-transparency-statement. Rates do not include taxes & fees.

How long will the ACP program last?

The ACP benefit was approved for five years as part of the recently approved infrastructure bill.  While there is no expectation this will change, if the FCC announces that funding is no longer available, Ready Wireless will attempt to provide you with a 30-day notice that it will discontinue its ACP-supported service plans. You may choose from our other service plans available at that time by paying the applicable undiscounted rate plus applicable fees and taxes.

Can I enroll in the ACP if I was enrolled in the EBB?

The FCC is phasing out the EBB and replacing it with the ACP beginning on December 31, 2021. Eligible subscribers who are enrolled in Ready Wireless’s EBB service plan as of 6:00 PM Eastern Time on December 30, 2021, will continue to receive those services with their EBB program discount during a 60-day transition period, which lasts from December 31, 2021 to March 1, 2022. The discount amount available to subscribers who are enrolled in the ACP after the transition period will be up to $30 per month. Beginning December 31, 2021, EBB customers may switch from an EBB service plan to an ACP service plan at any time. EBB subscribers who qualified for the EBB through eligibility criteria that are not applicable to the ACP will be required by USAC to demonstrate their eligibility in the National Verifier to receive an ACP benefit using the ACP criteria before the end of the transition period. EBB subscribers will receive additional information if they are required to take additional steps to transition to the ACP benefit on March 1, 2022.

What else do I need to know?

For full details about Ready Wireless’s ACP-supported services, please review our ACP Terms and Conditions, available here: [insert link]. Those terms and conditions only apply to ACP subscribers; if you are an EBB subscriber, please review our EBB Terms and Conditions here: https://www.readywireless.com/ebb-terms-and-conditions  Additional terms and conditions specific to your service plan may apply and will be communicated to you at the time you enroll in the service plan. For more information about the ACP, you can email rwebbsupport@readywireless.com.