The Affordable Connectivity Program has ended. Let’s keep you connected.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) officially ended in April 2024, leaving millions of American households with a hike in their cell phone and internet bills.
If you’re an ACP recipient who’s facing a higher wireless and internet bill, we’ve got affordable wireless and home internet plans to keep you connected and meet your needs without breaking your budget.
Info at a glance
- What was the Affordable Connectivity Program?
- Low-cost home internet from AT&T
- Bundle AT&T Wireless and internet
- Lowest cost AT&T Wireless plans
- Shop prepaid online or in stores
- Affordable cell phone plans from AT&T Prepaid
- How to switch to AT&T Prepaid
- Change your current AT&T Wireless plan
- Change your current AT&T Prepaid plan
What was the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was a federal subsidy for broadband connectivity in lower-income households in the U.S. It was enacted at the end of 2021, as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The ACP provided federal subsidies to wireless carriers, like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, for providing discounts on wireless and internet plans for qualifying households (eligibility was vetted by the government).
Why was the ACP shut down?
The United States Congress didn’t renew funding for the ACP, so federal benefit that provided households with discounted internet and wireless plan ended in April 2024.
Will the ACP be renewed?
It’s unlikely that the ACP will be renewed now that funding has lapsed, but it’s possible that Congress will move to create something similar in the future.
So, what happens now?
If you had an ACP discount, you’ll likely see an uptick in your May 2024 wireless and/or internet bills. We’re here to help you stay connected. Read on to learn more about affordable connectivity options at AT&T.
Lowest-cost home internet from AT&T
AT&T offers affordable internet service for eligible households through AT&T Access. If your household qualifies, you’ll get internet with speeds up to 100Mbps (varies by location), Wi-Fi® and installation with no equipment fees, no annual contract, and no deposit.
The best part? Service starts at $30/mo. (plus taxes and fees) for qualifying households.
You may qualify for Access if you’re currently eligible for any of these programs or income situation:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for California residents only
- Income level (household income based on 200% of the federal poverty guidelines)
- National School Lunch program
Bundle AT&T Wireless and Internet
¹AutoPay and paperless billing required with eligible postpaid unlimited plan (minimum $75 per month before discounts for a single line). Limited availability in select areas.
²Price after discount Price after discounts: $10 per month with AutoPay (starts within 2 bills) and paperless billing; 20% per month with eligible AT&T wireless service. Monthly State Cost Recovery charge applies in OH, TX, and NV. One-time installation fee may apply.
Lowest cost AT&T Wireless phone plans
The per-line cost of AT&T Wireless plans goes down as you add more lines to your account. Most plans also offer the option to sign up for AutoPay and receive a discount ($10/mo. if you pay your bill through your bank account, and $5/mo. if you pay your bill with a credit/debit card).
Our lowest-cost wireless postpaid plans are the AT&T 4GB plan and AT&T Unlimited Starter® SL plans—the unlimited plan has a lower per-line cost if you have four or more lines.
AT&T Prepaid plans start at $30/mo.
If you’re looking for an affordable cellular plan, AT&T Prepaid® offers outstanding value, using the same powerful AT&T network as AT&T Wireless plans.
AT&T Prepaid provides affordable plan options, the opportunity to bring your own device, and eSIM activation.
Four reasons to consider Prepaid
Same network, lower price. On average, prepaid plans are less expensive than postpaid plans—and prepaid plans use the same high-speed AT&T network. Another bonus? No contracts.
Multi-line discounts. Add additional lines to your prepaid account, and you can save with each additional line.
No credit check. Imperfect credit? Frozen your credit accounts for security reasons? That’s fine; prepaid won’t check your credit.
AutoPay makes it easy. Skip logging in to pay for service every time your plan renews. Many Prepaid plans offer an AutoPay discount (up to $15/mo.), too.
Shop prepaid online or in stores
Both our AT&T Prepaid online store and AT&T retail stores offer excellent deals on prepaid devices and plans. Check our prepaid deals page for current online deals on prepaid devices. Keep in mind in-store device savings are sometimes even better than online.
Or, if you already have a smartphone, you can bring it to a AT&T Prepaid plan—just be sure to make sure that it isn’t locked by your existing carrier. You will get an AT&T Prepaid SIM card or eSIM activation kit in the mail to start your prepaid plan service (you can visit any AT&T store to get one, too).
AT&T Prepaid at national retailers
You may have seen AT&T Prepaid plans, refill cards, devices, and products being sold at retail stores like Target, Walmart, and Dollar Tree, among others. You can purchase AT&T Prepaid products at these locations and more—there’s no difference between the quality of service, although some of the plan details and features differ from the plans sold on through AT&T Prepaid online.
How to switch to AT&T Prepaid
See our list of the information you will need before you move your phone number to an AT&T Prepaid account.
If you meet the transfer requirements (see below), you can contact us to start your transfer, or start your transfer online by picking your new plan and signing up with AT&T Prepaid.
If you already have an AT&T SIM Card, or if your device uses eSIM, you can activate with AT&T Prepaid today.
Once your AT&T Prepaid service is activated, we’ll notify your old carrier so that they can discontinue your service with them.
Criteria for transferring to a Prepaid account:
- If you bought a device on an installment plan from another carrier, you might need to pay the installment plan balance off and unlock your device.
- Make sure your other wireless account is up to date, with no past-due balances.
- AT&T Wireless customers: your AT&T Wireless account must have been active for 30+ days.
- AT&T Wireless customers: Your wireless account can’t be part of a service bundle (such as a combination of wireless service and internet), or a business account.
- AT&T Wireless customers: You also can’t switch to AT&T Prepaid two days before/four days after your bill period ends.
Change your current AT&T Wireless plan
If your current AT&T plan costs too much for you right now, you can switch to a lower cost one. Make sure to compare plans carefully (we’ll tell you how) first, so you don’t lose features that you love when you switch to a lower-cost plan.
To change your AT&T Wireless plan:
- Sign in to your AT&T account and go to Change my plan. You can compare the various AT&T Wireless plans side-by-side. Make sure to compare them carefully.
- Then choose Select & review for the plan that you want.
- Follow the prompts to complete the plan change.
Need assistance? Contact us for help.
Change your current AT&T Prepaid plan
If you’re already an AT&T Prepaid customer and want to explore other plan options, you can sign in to your account and change your plan today (you’ll renew to a new plan once your current month’s plan is over).
- Sign in to att.com/myPrepaid.
- At the top of the page, select Plans.
- Next to the rate plan you’d like to use, select Change to this plan.
- Follow the prompts to change your plan.