In the initial days of January 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the anticipated conclusion of the Affordable Connectivity Program in the upcoming spring, unless Congress grants supplementary funding. The FCC has initiated measures to wind down the program, with internet service providers, including Jackson County REMC, diligently adhering to the FCC’s guidance. Delve deeper into the implications for you by exploring the information provided below. Additionally, for more intricate details, you may refer to the FCC’s official notice on the Affordable Connectivity Program.
What’s happening?
Without additional funding from Congress, the FCC anticipates that the current ACP funding is projected to run out in April 2024. This date is an estimate and may change. This means:
- No new ACP applicants will be accepted by the government after February 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. At Jackson County REMC, we will no longer accept new ACP applicants after February 5, 2024 at 4:30 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.
- No new ACP applicants will be accepted by the government after February 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. At Jackson County REMC, we will no longer accept new ACP applicants after February 5, 2024 at 4:30 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.
What should you expect as an ACP household?
All households enrolled in the ACP will continue to receive the benefit of their internet service until ACP funding, which is currently projected through April 2024, runs out.
Eligible households who wish to receive the ACP benefit but have not yet applied for the program should submit a completed ACP application as soon as possible to allow time for processing so that an eligibility determination can be made and the eligible household can sign up with an internet company by February 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET. To reiterate – during this program wind-down period, households must BOTH submit their application on a timely basis to be approved AND if qualified sign up with an ACP-eligible internet company by February 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET to receive the benefit.
During the ACP wind-down period, ACP households will receive notices from Jackson County REMC 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 your bill.
- The date of the last bill you’ll receive includes the ACP benefit, and you can change your service or opt-out of continuing service after the end of the ACP.
Eligible households who wish to receive the ACP benefit but have not yet applied for the program should submit a completed ACP application as soon as possible to allow time for processing so that an eligibility determination can be made and the eligible household can sign up with an internet company by February 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET. To reiterate – during this program wind-down period, households must BOTH submit their application on a timely basis to be approved AND if qualified sign up with an ACP-eligible internet company by February 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET to receive the benefit.
During the ACP wind-down period, ACP households will receive notices from Jackson County REMC 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 your bill.
- The date of the last bill you’ll receive includes the ACP benefit, and you can change your service or opt-out of continuing service after the end of the ACP.
Important dates
- January 11, 2024: The FCC released an Order laying out wind-down processes and important dates including the enrollment freeze and the impacts on consumers, internet companies, and ACP Outreach Grant recipients..
- Starting late January 2024: Households that are currently receiving a monthly ACP benefit will start to receive notices from their internet companies with information about the end of the ACP benefit. This information will include timing of the end of the program and the impact of the loss of the benefit on the household’s bill and service.
- February 5, 2024 at 4:30 PM ET: This is the last day that Jackson County REMC will accept new applications and enrollments. Eligible households must be approved and enrolled with Jackson County REMC by 11:59 PM ET on February 4, 2024 to receive the ACP benefit until the program ends.
- February 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET: This is the last day that the ACP will accept new applications and enrollments. Eligible households must be approved and enrolled with an internet company by 11:59 PM ET on February 7th to receive the ACP benefit until the program ends. Starting February 8, 2024, there will be no more enrollments into the ACP.
- April 2024: The timeframe the FCC anticipates ACP funding will run out if Congress does not provide additional funding. Currently, the FCC expects consumers that are enrolled in the ACP to continue to receive their full benefit on their internet service through at least April 2024.
- January 11, 2024: The FCC released an Order laying out wind-down processes and important dates including the enrollment freeze and the impacts on consumers, internet companies, and ACP Outreach Grant recipients..
- Starting late January 2024: Households that are currently receiving a monthly ACP benefit will start to receive notices from their internet companies with information about the end of the ACP benefit. This information will include timing of the end of the program and the impact of the loss of the benefit on the household’s bill and service.
- February 5, 2024 at 4:30 PM ET: This is the last day that Jackson County REMC will accept new applications and enrollments. Eligible households must be approved and enrolled with Jackson County REMC by 11:59 PM ET on February 4, 2024 to receive the ACP benefit until the program ends.
- February 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET: This is the last day that the ACP will accept new applications and enrollments. Eligible households must be approved and enrolled with an internet company by 11:59 PM ET on February 7th to receive the ACP benefit until the program ends. Starting February 8, 2024, there will be no more enrollments into the ACP.
- April 2024: The timeframe the FCC anticipates ACP funding will run out if Congress does not provide additional funding. Currently, the FCC expects consumers that are enrolled in the ACP to continue to receive their full benefit on their internet service through at least April 2024.