Helping Households Connect


Sand Prairie, a service of Jo-Carroll Energy, has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a provider for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) a new longer-term program that replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program on December 31, 2021 to help lower the cost of high-speed internet to eligible households in our area.

Households enrolled in the EBB as of December 31, 2021, will continue to receive their current monthly benefit amount during a 60-day transition period that began December 31, 2021, and ends March 1, 2022. The final details of the ACP, including the reverification process for eligibility under the ACP’s new eligibility criteria, are still being developed by the Federal Government. Current EBB subscribers will receive additional information if you are required to take any steps to retain your benefit after March 1, 2022.

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms.

Affordable Connectivity Program
Affordable Connectivity Program

Application

As of December 31, 2021, eligible households will be able to enroll in the ACP program to receive a monthly discount off the cost of broadband service. Members interested in applying for assistance must:

  • 1) First apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program and be approved by the Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC). More information may be found here: https://fcc.gov/acp.
  • 2) Once eligibility is approved by USAC, complete a benefit enrollment request application with Jo-Carroll Energy by visiting: ACP Application. The information supplied in Jo-Carroll’s ACP Application must match exactly with the applicant and/or qualifying beneficiary information enrollment in step 1. Jo-Carroll Energy will verify your eligibility thru the National Verifier and contact member applicants if additional information is required to complete the benefit enrollment.

 

About the Program


Benefits

The Affordable Connectivity Program will provide a discount of up to $30 per month towards broadband service for eligible households. The benefit is limited to one monthly service discount per household.

Affordable Connectivity Program
Affordable Connectivity Program

Who is Eligible?

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the low-income criteria, including but not limited to, qualifying for the Lifeline program or free and reduced- price school lunch programs.Complete list of eligibility criteria


Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is an FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms.

How Much Is The Benefit?
The Affordable Connectivity Program will provide a discount of up to $30 per month towards broadband service for eligible households. This discount can be applied to our wireless or fiber internet service:
Wireless Internet Smartlink (1Mbps/.5Mbps) = $29.95/month Smartlink Plus (2Mbps/.5Mbps) = $34.95/month Elitelink (3Mbps/.75Mbps) = $39.95/month Powerlink (4Mbps/2Mbps) = $59.95/month Fiber Internet Fiber-Link Home (25Mpbs/25Mbps) = $59.99/month Fiber-Link (250Mpbs/250Mbps) = $74.99/month Giga-Link (1000Mpbs/1000Mbps) = $99.99/month Hyper-Link (2000Mpbs/2000Mbps) = $299.99/month

Who Is Eligible For The Affordable Connectivity Program?
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below: • Has an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines; or • Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline; • Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; • Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year; • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income program. To learn if you are eligible please visit: https://acpbenefit.org/do-i-qualify/

Can I Receive Both ACP And Lifeline Benefits At The Same Time?
Yes. You can also combine these benefits with other state and local benefits where available. They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and the Affordable Connectivity Program with the same or different providers. For example, an eligible household could have Lifeline-supported mobile phone service and a separate home broadband service that is supported through the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Can I Apply For The ACP If I Have A Past Due Balance With The Provider?
Yes, eligible consumers with a past due balance or a balance in collections are eligible for the benefit.​​

Can I Upgrade My Current Plan To Take Advantage Of The Full $30 Per Month?
You may be able to do so. Talk to our representatives about the plans available as part of the Affordable Connectivity Program.

How Long Will The ACP Program Last?
The program will end once the program funds are exhausted. From all early indications the funds are expected to last through 2022 and enrolled members will have to recertify at the end of 2022.

How Will I Know The ACP Program Is Ending?
We will provide notice about the last date or billing cycle that the full benefit will apply to your bill and the date or billing cycle that a partial benefit will apply to your bill, in addition to information about the cost of your broadband service after the program ends.