As the Affordable Connectivity Program nears its end, one group will be disproportionately affected. Military families make up almost half of all ACP aid recipients, according to a White House fact sheet. That means more than 10 million veterans, military personnel and their families will see an increase in their Internet bills at the end of the month.
“If the program ends, then some veterans will have to pay $30 to $75 more for Internet access each month — and others may lose Internet access altogether,” Department of Veterans Affairs spokesman Terence Hayes told CNET. “This is unacceptable, especially at a time when telehealth has become such an important tool.”
According to a recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, video-based telehealth visits account for nearly 12% of outpatient care among veterans, a 2,300% jump from pre-pandemic levels. Another report of the Federal Communications Commission found that the cost of a monthly Internet subscription is a “key barrier to broadband adoption” for veterans. That being said, the end of the ACP could have a dramatic effect on the well-being of the military community.
While no program can replace the $30 to $75 monthly rebate that ACP offers, several other options are available to military families, including rebates from ISPs and other government subsidies.
Military discounts from internet providers
Many ISPs offer discounts for military families. You can also check out our review of the best cheap internet providers for cheaper options. These are all the discounts I found in my research, but there may be regional providers available at your address that I haven’t covered. You can find all ISPs in your area by entering your address in FCC Broadband Card.
Coke
Anyone who receives a VA pension and a survivor’s benefit is eligible to take advantage of Cox’s ConnectAssist plan. It provides speeds of up to 100Mbps for $30 per month, which is $20 less than Coke charges for the same speeds without discount.
The rise of broadband
Active and retired military members will be able to receive a 10% discount on monthly internet services from The rise of broadband — one of the most generous discounts I’ve come across. Rise offers primarily fixed wireless Internet service in rural areas, with plans ranging from $25 to $100 per month. You will need to speak directly with customer service to activate the discount.
Starlink
Starlink doesn’t technically offer a military discount, but Home Depot does — and you can use it to get 10% off the $599 Starlink Satellite Dish ($59 off). Starlink’s monthly rates are still high at $120, but it’s a great option in rural areas without other high-speed internet providers.
Verizon Fios
All military members and veterans are eligible for Verizon Fios Military Discount. Here’s the savings you’ll get for each Verizon Fios plan:
- $5 off per month for 300Mbps
- $10 off per month for 500Mbps
- $15 off per month for Gigabit Connection
Xfinity
Xfinity offers a range of discounts for military members, including a $180 Virtual Prepaid Card, a Peacock Premium subscription and a year of free Xfinity Mobile. All active or reserve military members, retired military members, veterans, spouses or family members living in the same household as one of the above are eligible.
ISPs that don’t offer military discounts
As of this writing, the following providers do not currently offer any discounts on Internet service for military members:
Other Accessible Internet Resources
In addition to the programs listed above, there are several low income internet options worth exploring. Lifeline is the most significant ACP replacement at the moment. The program has stricter income requirements than ACP – your annual income must be at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or $42,120 for a family of four. The benefit is also only $9.25 per month, but can be used on both home internet and cell phone plans. Additionally, your state or city may have resources available to support military family connections.
