Spectrum customer with ACP benefits? Those benefits are ending. Find out what to do next.
Are you a Spectrum customer who gets a discount on their home internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)? Thanks to the current congressional disagreements concerning ACP funding, the ACP is winding down, with no new signups accepted since February 7.
ACP funding is projected to run out in April of this year. You don’t want to be left high and dry when that happens, so we recommend you get ahead of the curve. How, you may ask? Let us explain.
Spectrum customers should make the switch to Internet Assist
For current Spectrum customers who get aid from the ACP, our experts recommend you look into Spectrum Internet Assist’s 50 Mbps plan. For $24.99 per month, the 50 Mbps download speed should be sufficient to sustain a small household that checks emails and surfs the web—streaming must be done lightly.
We reached out to Charter Communications (Spectrum’s parent company) concerning Internet Assist’s availability, and they stated that Internet Assist is available across all 41 states that Spectrum services. This claim didn’t seem accurate based on our research because we could only find it available in California and New York City zip codes, although we didn’t test every Spectrum zip in all 41 states. We recommend double-checking availability by entering your zip code below or on Spectrum’s site.
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Who qualifies for Spectrum Internet Assist?
If you qualified for the ACP, there is a strong chance you can qualify for Spectrum’s Internet Assist plan. Specifically, to qualify for Internet Assist, you must be enrolled in one of the following three programs: National School Lunch Program (NSLP); Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP; or Supplemental Security Income (for applicants age 65+ only). Spectrum has more detailed information on its Internet Assist webpage.
Are there other low-income internet options?
Spectrum is just one of many major internet providers that are stepping up with new affordable internet plans to help those customers who are soon losing their ACP internet stipend.
For example, Xfinity Internet Essentials comes with 50 Mbps download speeds for $9.95 per month, while Xfinity Internet Essentials Plus gives you 100 Mbps download speeds for $29.95 per month. Both are available for qualifying households and also allot recipients low-cost computers, free Wi-Fi hotspots, and free internet training. Yes, you’re reading that right—Xfinity offers a plan with the same download speeds as Internet Assist for $15.00 less than Spectrum.
With a not insignificant overlap in service areas, we recommend that even current Spectrum customers check if they live in an Xfinity area.
