Affordable Connectivity Program – Regional Outreach

Affordable Connectivity Program - Regional Outreach

A snapshot of the KC region’s digital inclusion efforts around affordability and the ACP

Households in the KC Region Enrolled in the ACP

%

Enrollment Rate for Eligible Households

ACP Outreach Events Held

In our bi-state region–and across the country–many low-income households struggle to afford their internet service. Each month, they must choose which expenses to pay and are often forced to pick rent, utilities and other critical expenses over the internet. They may rack up late fees, making an already too-high bill even higher–and get disconnected for nonpayment, leaving them without this service that is essential in today’s digital economy.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a subsidy program provided by the FCC, and with its (up to) $30/month discount, it has not only lowered the internet bills of eligible low-income households, it has influenced some internet service providers to offer plans that are 100% covered by the discount, making internet service free for those who can select such a plan.

Notably, the ACP prevents credit checks, upselling and requiring contracts and requires that ISPs refrain from disconnecting service for 90 days. And if a household does end up getting disconnected, they do not need to pay off their balance to restore service.

But, none of this helps if a household is unaware of or unable to sign up for the ACP. Our evidence shows that awareness of this program is very low in our region among both low-income households and community-based organizations. Therefore, we are building on our work over the last two years through the Internet Access Support Program, which has provided up to $225 for past-due bills and an internet subsidy up to $75/month for six months for about 1,200 households in the KC metro, by deploying a number of tactics to increase ACP awareness and enrollment. We also continue to bolster a comprehensive coalition of organizations familiar with serving diverse, low-income households and are experienced in helping their clients connect to other community resources like the ACP.

Tools and resources

Download the ACP Sign-Up Manual – prepared by KC Digital Drive for local community organizations
Share your ACP activities to include in local monthly reports and newsletters
Contact us to learn more about regional planning or to request an ACP overview or ACP training for your staff
Download the Greater Kansas City ACP Enrollment Reports by month – prepared by KC Digital Drive
- Oct 2022 – published on 12/1/22
- Nov 2022 – published on 1/4/23
- Dec 2022 – coming soon
Check out our Internet Access Support Program (IASP) to learn more about additional assistance we can provide and subsidies that may be available

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