Whether applying for jobs and working remotely, participating in telehealth, engaging with schoolwork, or maintaining relationships with friends and community, reliable in-home internet has never been more vital. With your help, we can close the digital divide for HUD-assisted families.
The Biden Administration is committed to expanding broadband access for more than 4 million HUD-assisted families. The FCC announced this month that it will launch the Your Home, Your Internet pilot program later this year to promote enrollment of HUD-assisted families in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). We will keep you updated as more details about the pilot are made available.
PHAs can help residents enroll in ACP today, in advance of the new pilot. The Affordable Connectivity Program offers low-income households up to $30/month discount for broadband service and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a computer or tablet. HUD-assisted families automatically qualify for ACP and the subsidy is not considered income for the purpose of determining program eligibility or household rent.
Today we’re asking for your help spreading the word about ACP with residents. Agencies have had great success boosting program registration using direct text messages and pairing ACP materials with pre-planned mailings. Back-to-school events are another terrific way to reach families to share the good news about ACP as part of your ongoing resident service and outreach programs!
The FCC’s ACP Outreach Toolkit and HUD’s digital access landing page have all the materials and resources you need to get information directly to your residents. Because families enroll in the program through GetInternet.gov, there’s no added administrative burden beyond helping encourage enrollment.
With your partnership, we can increase access to affordable broadband to close the digital divide for families and children.