Long Beach tells residents to prepare for return of full-priced internet as Affordable Connectivity Program runs out

A program that has helped nearly 50,000 Long Beach residents to afford wireless internet since 2021 is set to go offline at the end of April. 

The City is urging residents signed up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to check with their provider and bill cycle to prepare for the return to full-priced costs.

The program began nationwide in 2021 and through $14.2 billion in allocations from the federal government, provided internet discounts of up to $30 a month to low-income residents. 

Long Beach saw a 60% enrollment for residents eligible for the program. Due to an end in federal funding, the program is set to expire at the end of April. 

Long Beach’s Technology and Innovation Department is encouraging residents to take the following steps: 

• Frequently check your emails and mail from your internet service provider for more information and further updates regarding the ACP benefit. Additional information will also be available at affordableconnectivity.gov and fcc.gov/acp.
• Contact your internet service provider for questions about how the end of the ACP will affect your monthly bill, then choose to opt in or opt out of your internet plan.
• Visit fcc.gov/acp to review a list of frequently asked questions, available in English and Spanish, and other guidance about the ACP wind-down process, including what households need to know about retaining internet service after the end of the ACP.
• Contact the Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) ACP Support Center at 877-384-2575 for any other questions about the ACP wind-down and information about their benefits.

“We strongly encourage everyone enrolled in the ACP to contact their Internet Service Provider to review their plan in order to avoid bill shock if and when the funds run out,” said Lea Eriksen, Director of Technology and Innovation, in a public statement. 

The Long Beach City Council adopted a resolution on Feb. 20 to support the Affordable Connectivity Extension Act. If passed, it will provide $7 billion to continue the ACP program past this spring. 

“Additional funding from the federal government will continue the ACP and ensure that low-cost internet access remains accessible to our enrolled residents and businesses,” said Councilmember Roberto Uranga in a public statement. “This resolution reiterates our efforts to address the internet gap by encouraging Congress to support closure of the digital divide.”