A government discount that once knocked $30 off a monthly internet bill is gone, but that doesn’t mean every federal phone and internet benefit disappeared with it. The Lifeline program still helps eligible Americans pay for phone or internet service, although its smaller discount comes with rules worth checking before signing up.
The confusion makes sense. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helped millions of eligible households afford broadband, then ended in June 2024 after Congress failed to provide additional funding. Lifeline survived, but it never offered the same level of assistance to most households.
