One group was disproportionately affected by the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program: Military families make up nearly half of ACP recipients, according to a White House fact sheet, meaning more than 10 million veterans, service members, and their families saw their internet bills increase in June.
“If this program ends, some veterans will have to pay an extra $30 to $75 per month for internet access, and some may lose internet access altogether,” VA spokesman Terrence Hayes told CNET in May. “This is unacceptable, especially at a time when telehealth has become such a critical tool.”
According to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine:, Video telehealth now accounts for approximately 12% of outpatient visits for veterans, up 2,300% from pre-pandemic levels. A separate Federal Communications Commission report concluded that the monthly cost of internet subscriptions is a “significant barrier to broadband adoption” for veterans. With this in mind, the end of ACP would have a dramatic ripple effect on the well-being of the military community.
While there is no single program to replace the $30 to $75 a month discounts that ACP offered, military families have several other options, including discounts from internet providers and other government subsidies.
Internet provider military discounts
Many internet providers offer discounts for military families, and for more low-cost options, check out our ranking of the best cheap internet providers. These are all the discounts I found in my research, but there may be local providers available at your address that I didn’t cover. You can find all the internet providers in your area by entering your address into the FCC’s broadband map.
Cox
Anyone receiving a VA pension and survivor benefits can get Cox’s ConnectAssist plan, which offers speeds of up to 100Mbps for $30 a month, which is $20 cheaper than Cox’s rate for the same speeds without the discount.
Rise Broadband
Active duty military and veterans can get a 10% discount on monthly internet service from Rise Broadband, one of the most generous discounts I’ve found. Rise offers fixed wireless internet service primarily in rural areas, with monthly plans ranging from $25 to $100. To activate the discount, you’ll need to contact customer service directly.
Starlink
Starlink doesn’t technically offer a military discount, but Home Depot does, and the deal will give you 10% off Starlink’s $599 satellite dish (a savings of $59). Starlink’s monthly fee is still on the high side at $120, but it’s a great option for rural areas where there aren’t any other high-speed internet providers.
Verizon Fios
All military and veterans are eligible for the Verizon Fios military discount. Here’s what you get on each Verizon Fios plan:
- 300Mbps with $5 off per month
- 500Mbps with $10 off per month
- Save $15/month on Gigabit connectivity
Xfinity
Xfinity is offering a variety of discounts to military members, including a $180 virtual prepaid card, a Peacock Premium subscription, and a free one-year Xfinity Mobile cellular line. Anyone who is an active duty military member, reservist, veteran, or retired military member, spouse, or family member living in the same home as any of the above, is eligible for the discounts.
Internet providers that don’t offer military discounts
At the time of writing, the following providers do not offer discounts on internet service to military personnel.
More Resources on Affordable Internet
In addition to the programs mentioned above, there are some low-income internet options worth considering. Lifeline is currently the most important alternative to ACP. This program has stricter income requirements than ACP, requiring annual income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or $42,120 for a family of four. Benefits are also $9.25 per month, but can be used towards a home internet or cell phone plan. Additionally, your state or city may have resources in place to help military families stay connected.
