If yours is one of the many households struggling to pay for the high-speed internet service you need for work, school or healthcare, there’s a federal program that can help you afford service.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Program that can get you a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service.

For households on qualifying Tribal lands, the discount is $75 per month.

The program also offers a one-time discount of $100 to help eligible households buy a laptop or desktop computer or a tablet if providers also contribute more than $10 but less than $50 toward the purchase price.

Help at the Wichita Public Library branches

For residents who want to enroll in the program but lack the technology skills, the Wichita Public Library’s technology trainers will be available to help during the month of March.

Here is the schedule:

Walters Branch, 4195 E., Harry Street; Noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, March 8, 15 and 22, from Noon to 6 p.m. 

Evergreen Branch, 2601 N. Arkansas; 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, March 17, 24, and 31. 

Household qualifications

A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or if a member of the household meets at least one of the following criteria:

  • Received a Pell Grant during the current award year;
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program;
  • Participates in one of these assistance programs: 1) free or reduced school lunch program or school breakfast program including USDA Community Eligibility Provision schools, 2) SNAP, 3) Medicaid, 4) Housing Choice Voucher Program, 5) Project-based Rental Assistance, 6) Public Housing to Supplemental Security income, 7) WIC, 8) Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits or 8) Lifeline
  • Participates in one of these assistance programs and lives on Qualifying Tribal lands: 1) Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, 2) Tribal TANF, 3) Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, 4) Tribal Head Start or 5) Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawiians

Eligible households can go online at affordableconnectivity.gov to submit an online application or print a mail-in application, or by contacting their preferred broadband provider directly and selecting a plan.

P.J. Griekspoor is a semi-retired veteran journalist with 55 years experience in writing and editing in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina and Wichita.  She spent 18 years at the Wichita Eagle...