ACP Wind-down plan released

As expected, the FCC released their instructions for providers and others to wind-down activities related to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The program is expected to run out of funding in April of this year unless Congress passes legislation to fund it for the rest of 2024.

Wind-down steps announced by the FCC:

• No new ACP enrollments will be accepted after February 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.
• Households that enrolled with an ACP internet company before February 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET will continue to receive their ACP benefit until ACP funds run out as long as the household remains enrolled and eligible for the benefit.
• When ACP funds run out, households participating in the ACP will no longer receive the ACP discounts.

During the ACP wind-down period, ACP households will receive notices from their internet company about the impact of the end of the benefit on the household’s bill and service. The notices will include:

• That the ACP is ending,
• The impact on their bill,
• The date of the last bill they will receive that includes the ACP benefit, and
• That they may change their service or opt-out of continuing service after the end of the ACP.

ACP households will also receive notices from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the administrator of the ACP. The FCC has also developed an ACP Wind-Down Fact Sheet.