What to know about the Affordable Connectivity Program with Viasat home internet

What to know about the Affordable Connectivity Program with Viasat home internet

The FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program allows us to bring affordable internet service to qualifying households

Residential

We know how important home internet access is for everything from keeping in touch with friends and family to studying, working from home, and much more. That's why we're excited to participate in the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to bring affordable internet service to qualifying households. No one should have to live without essential internet access, so if you need help paying for internet, here's what you need to know about the ACP and to see if you're eligible.

The Affordable Connectivity Program at a glance

• The Affordable Connectivity Program is a federal program Viasat participates in.
• ACP saves qualifying customers up to $30/mo. on home internet.
• If you live on qualifying Tribal lands, you can save up to $75/mo.
• To qualify, your household income needs to be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, or someone in your household needs to meet one of the other criteria covered below.
• After learning you qualify, Viasat Internet can help you apply the discount to your plan.

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?

ACP is a federal government benefit program operated by the FCC and designed to help ensure that households can afford broadband connectivity. The ACP replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program and provides a monthly discount up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for eligible households located on qualifying Tribal lands. The ACP is limited to one monthly service discount per household and is non-transferable between other persons or households.

How is Viasat participating with the ACP?

As an internet provider, we participate in the ACP by making internet more affordable for households in need. We're applying the FCC's ACP discount to our plans for those who qualify to bring essential internet service to new customers, and to keep current customers connected.

How much will I save with the ACP benefit?

The ACP benefit is a discount of up to $30/month, or up to $75/month for those who live on qualifying Tribal lands.

How do I qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program?

To qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, your household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, a member of your household must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Participates in one of these assistance programs: The National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision; SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), WIC, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits or Lifeline;
• Participates in one of these assistance programs and live on qualifying Tribal lands: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Tribal Head Start (income based);
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income program

How do I apply for the ACP benefit?

Step 1: Check eligibility - To find out if you or someone in your household may qualify for the ACP discount, click here.

Step 2: Apply - Use the National Verifier to apply and submit the required documents online or via mail.

Step 3: Call Viasat to get started - Once you've been approved for the ACP and you have received your Application ID, give us a call at 1-833-674-1825 and begin the process to enroll in the ACP with Viasat.

Do I need to be a current Viasat customer to get the ACP benefit?

No, the ACP benefit is available to anyone who qualifies, applies, receives the Application ID, and is able to be successfully enrolled via the National Lifeline Accountability Database.

Can I use the ACP benefit on my existing Viasat home satellite internet plan?

Yes, you can apply the ACP to the cost of your current Viasat Internet service, which will lower the cost of your monthly plan for as long as you qualify for the benefit. Once the program ends or you are no longer eligible, you will be subject to Viasat's regular rates, terms, and conditions.

How do I get the ACP benefit if I'm a current customer?

You'll need to check if you qualify for the ACP, and then reach out to us so we can begin the process to enroll you in the ACP with Viasat.

Here are the steps to take:

Step 1: Check eligibility.

Step 2: Apply and send qualifying documents online or via mail.

Step 3: After you have your Application ID, call Viasat at 1-833-674-1825 and begin the process to enroll in the ACP with Viasat.

How will the ACP benefit appear on my bill?

Your ACP discount will appear in the same location as your standard internet plan charges as "ACP Discount" or "ACP Tribal Land Discount," and it will reduce the total due by up to $30 per month, or up to $75 per month for those residing on eligible Tribal lands.

Is there a specific ACP internet plan that I should be on?

The ACP discount can be applied to any Viasat internet service plan. When you call us after you're approved, we can help you find the right plan for you if you're a new customer, or we can apply the discount to your current plan (or help you upgrade) if you're a current customer.

Can I transfer my ACP benefit to another person or household?

The ACP benefit is nontransferable between other persons or households. The ACP benefit is limited to one monthly benefit per household.

Can my ACP benefit be transferred to another service provider?

The benefit is limited to one per household and can only be applied to one provider at a time. However, you may choose to transfer your benefit to another participating provider at any time.

What is the Tribal benefit?

Eligible households that live on qualifying Tribal lands may receive a discount of up to $75 per month off Viasat Internet service.

Is ACP a temporary program?

Congress intended for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to replace the former Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) as a longer-term program. It will continue for so long as the government provides funding for the ACP. If the program ends, customers will be subject to Viasat's general rates, terms, and conditions.

What happened to the Emergency Broadband Benefit?

The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) ended on 12/31/21 and was replaced with the Affordable Connectivity Program. Those households fully enrolled in the EBB program as of 12/31/21 continued to receive their EBB monthly benefits until 3/1/22.

What happens when the Affordable Connectivity Program ends?

Once the ACP program ends or you are no longer eligible, if you choose to continue with your current internet service plan, you will be responsible for payment at the full and regular rates, terms, and conditions.

To see if you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, get started by checking your eligibility here.

Need more information?

Please check out our webpage, our frequently asked questions, or give us a call at 1-833-674-1825.