Author Topic: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)  (Read 3639 times)

jim555

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Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« on: May 09, 2022, 03:06:59 PM »
I have been on this since it was the EBB, Emergency Broadband Benefit.  Now it is called the ACP.  Verizon FIOS 300 is free in my area under the ACP.  https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/do-i-qualify/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/09/fact-sheet-president-biden-and-vice-president-harris-reduce-high-speed-internet-costs-for-millions-of-americans/

"NEW PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITMENTS
To make the most of this program, the Biden-Harris Administration asked participating internet service providers to either reduce prices and or raise speeds to offer ACP-eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30/month. For these purposes, the Administration views a sufficiently high-speed plan as one that offers download speeds of at least 100 Megabits per second everywhere that the provider’s infrastructure is capable of it. That’s fast enough for a typical family of four to work from home, do schoolwork, browse the web, and stream high-definition shows and movies. In addition, the Administration asked providers to offer such plans with no fees and no data caps.

For example, as part of this initiative, Verizon lowered the price for its Fios service from $39.99/month to $30/month for a plan that delivers download and upload speeds of at least 200 Megabits per second, and Spectrum doubled the speed of the $30/month plan it makes available to ACP participants from 50 to 100 Megabits per second (download)."
« Last Edit: May 09, 2022, 03:34:17 PM by jim555 »

wageslave23

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2022, 07:28:35 AM »
Haha, because watching porn and Netflix is an American right!  I understand children need internet connectivity in order to do homework, but I don't think 100 mbps is necessary.  I work from home on much less.  Plus, it would be better to require companies that require work from home to reimburse for internet expense.  I can't imagine there are many jobs that are work from home that don't pay more than $55k. 

Michael in ABQ

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2022, 05:02:01 PM »
I'm curious how programs like this, or really any publicly funded program aimed at low income households/individuals, work for 2 or more people living together who aren't legally a "household". Like roommates who share internet or other utilities but aren't low income jointly even if one (or even both) would qualify separately.

Lying? I suppose if they check and see two people claim to live at the same address and didn't count the other person in their household they could stop the benefit. However, having worked for the government I have zero expectations of any sort of checks or accountability like that. Unless it's something like the same social security number being used multiple times there's probably minimal attempts to stop fraud, waste, and abuse.


I just checked and our household of 8 probably qualifies. I guess it depends on how they define income - i.e. AGI, gross, net taxable, etc.

wageslave23

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2022, 08:18:05 PM »
I'm curious how programs like this, or really any publicly funded program aimed at low income households/individuals, work for 2 or more people living together who aren't legally a "household". Like roommates who share internet or other utilities but aren't low income jointly even if one (or even both) would qualify separately.

Lying? I suppose if they check and see two people claim to live at the same address and didn't count the other person in their household they could stop the benefit. However, having worked for the government I have zero expectations of any sort of checks or accountability like that. Unless it's something like the same social security number being used multiple times there's probably minimal attempts to stop fraud, waste, and abuse.


I just checked and our household of 8 probably qualifies. I guess it depends on how they define income - i.e. AGI, gross, net taxable, etc.

Almost everything is AGI based

Paul der Krake

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2022, 08:46:09 PM »
The potential for abuse is non-existent here. The subsidy goes to the cable company.

Yes, I suppose it's possible for me to rent the shoddy guest house on my multi-million dollar estate to a student who qualifies, and then I guess everyone shares the password and oh no, I guess this doesn't look to good but is perfectly legal?

BRB building a guesthouse to take advantage of the government to the tune of $30 very indirect dollars per month.

jim555

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2022, 08:54:31 PM »
I'm curious how programs like this, or really any publicly funded program aimed at low income households/individuals, work for 2 or more people living together who aren't legally a "household". Like roommates who share internet or other utilities but aren't low income jointly even if one (or even both) would qualify separately.
It is probably like the ACA.  If they aren't connected tax wise then those are two distinct households.

I had a special deal from the cable co. for $35 a month 500/30 for a year, with a $200 cash card.  Then the EBB came in and paid for everything, so I got paid to have it, bought a cable modem and new router.  Today I cancelled the cable and went to Verizon 300/300 which is free with the ACP, they also are giving Disney+,Hulu, and ESPN+ for 6 months.  Cable will start sending me new offers soon like they always do, LOL.

https://www.verizon.com/home/fios-forward/
« Last Edit: May 16, 2022, 04:44:32 PM by jim555 »

Tempname23

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2022, 08:29:22 AM »
I'm curious how many streaming services (Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, ESPN+, etc) you can have before the Government says, if you can afford all those streaming services, you can afford to pay for your own internet service.  Nah, that's not going to happen.

jim555

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2022, 08:54:09 AM »
I'm curious how many streaming services (Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, ESPN+, etc) you can have before the Government says, if you can afford all those streaming services, you can afford to pay for your own internet service.  Nah, that's not going to happen.
I'm not paying for streaming services, Disney plus is a 6 month trial.  OTA antenna all the way!  Library DVDs!

Paul der Krake

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2022, 01:33:15 PM »
I'm curious how many streaming services (Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, ESPN+, etc) you can have before the Government says, if you can afford all those streaming services, you can afford to pay for your own internet service.  Nah, that's not going to happen.
The government can barely keep track of how many people live within its borders. It doesn't have the ability to know which services you subscribe to, just like they don't have the ability to know whether food stamps recipients should go on a diet anyway, or whether people filing for workers comp are faking it. At the very best, it can venture a statistical guess, at a huge cost.

jim555

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2022, 02:41:46 PM »
I'm curious how programs like this, or really any publicly funded program aimed at low income households/individuals, work for 2 or more people living together who aren't legally a "household". Like roommates who share internet or other utilities but aren't low income jointly even if one (or even both) would qualify separately.
It is probably like the ACA.  If they aren't connected tax wise then those are two distinct households.

But the ACA and similar programs are person-specific where as utilities, internet, phone, cable, etc are more whole house usage by everyone residing there. But maybe it doesn't matter.
https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/do-i-qualify/what-is-a-household/

"A household is a group of people who live together and share money even if they are not related to each other.

If you live together and share money, you are one household. If you either don’t live together or you don’t share money, you are two or more households."

https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/wp-content/uploads/acp/documents/household-worksheet.pdf

jim555

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2022, 03:14:05 PM »
That explains a lot. I'm still not sure what "shared expenses" would mean between roommates if they sit utilities and rent (or one rents a room in someone's home). So if I and a roommate (or 4 roommates) split rent and utilities 50/50 but otherwise were separate entities income-wise and personal expense-wise we'd both qualify separately?
From what I am reading it sounds like those are separate households.

Morning Glory

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Re: Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2022, 04:59:54 PM »
That explains a lot. I'm still not sure what "shared expenses" would mean between roommates if they sit utilities and rent (or one rents a room in someone's home). So if I and a roommate (or 4 roommates) split rent and utilities 50/50 but otherwise were separate entities income-wise and personal expense-wise we'd both qualify separately?
From what I am reading it sounds like those are separate households.

It depends.  When my SIL and 3 of her kids came to live with us she no longer qualified for SNAP because we didn't have a separate kitchen for her. Even though she was basically homeless and couch surfing, she would have had to include our income on her application.  She was still a separate household for medicaid and free school lunch though, and my niece still qualified for WIC. You would think there would be more incentive to take in homeless relatives. I don't know how they will define "household " for this internet program. 
« Last Edit: May 17, 2022, 05:02:44 PM by Morning Glory »

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!