How To Get Low-Income Internet through Earthlink

Affordable Connectivity Program benefits are ending, but you can still get discounted internet through other programs

by Peter Christiansen
Edited by Jessica Brooksby

Nov 5, 2024 | Share
Brand Guides, FAQ, Low-Income

As the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) shuts down, millions of Americans will lose the discounts that they relied on to balance their internet bill with their household budget. Although Congress still needs to find a way to deal with this issue at the federal level, there are other low-income internet programs that are still available.

Earthlink has wide coverage throughout the U.S., as well as a wide assortment of plans. Although its plans are quite a bit more expensive than wired providers that offer similar speeds, it can be a cheaper option than satellite for those in areas with limited choices.

Jump to: Alternatives to the ACP | What happens when the ACP ends? | Other providers with low-income programs | Other options from Earthlink | Additional resources

Jump to:

Alternatives to the ACP
What happens when the ACP ends?
Other providers with low-income programs
Other options from Earthlink
Additional resources

Alternatives to the ACP

Passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has been one of the most effective and efficient programs for expanding internet access in low-income communities. While its closure will have a significant impact on those in the program, as well as negative consequences for the broader economy, there are, fortunately, other programs to help people afford internet access. One of the easiest ways to transition away from the ACP is to enroll in another government program.

The Lifeline program is the other active government program for internet assistance. The Lifeline program works similarly to the ACP. However, it has stricter eligibility requirements and offers a smaller benefit. Not all ACP participants will qualify for Lifeline, but if you qualified for the ACP through one of these programs, you likely qualify for the Lifeline program as well:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Medicaid
Tribal Programs for Native Americans

Lifeline also offers benefits based on income, but the threshold for Lifeline is 135% of the federal poverty guideline, rather than the 200% needed for the ACP. To check your eligibility for the program, visit the Lifeline website.

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What happens when the ACP ends?

April was the last fully-funded month of the ACP, during which those in the program received their full benefit. In May, participants will only receive a partial payment or $7–$16 toward their monthly internet bill, rather than the full $30. After May, no one in the program will receive any benefits unless Congress chooses to fund the program once again.

Once the program has ended, those on plans wholly covered by the ACP plan will lose internet service completely unless they opt-in to receiving undiscounted service from their provider. ACP customers can also opt-out of their internet service at the end of the ACP.

To avoid an interruption in service, you must do the following:

Acknowledge receiving the disclosures about the ACP ending
Consent to receive internet service without the ACP discount
Pay your full bill for the upcoming month

You can also choose to switch to a different provider or cancel your connection entirely, though we’d suggest looking into other free and low-cost options first.

Other providers with low-income programs

One of the reasons that the ACP worked so well is that the program was nearly universal—all major internet providers participated in the program and had an incentive to tailor their own plans to work better with the subsidy it provided. Many ISPs have stepped up to fill the gap left by the end of the ACP, but while their requirements and benefits are similar, there’s some important differences between these programs.

If Earthlink plans no longer fit your budget without the ACP benefit, here are some other internet providers with affordable internet plans:

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Other options from Earthlink

Earthlink offers an incredibly long list of plans, though not all plans are available in all locations. Depending on what options are available in your area, Earthlink could be a very reasonable choice, or it might not have any plans that fit your needs at all.

Earthlink plans and pricing

Package	Price	Speed	Connection type	Order online
18 Mbps Internet	$64.95/mo.*	18Mbps	DSL	See Plans for EarthLink
24 Mbps Internet	$64.95/mo.*	24Mbps	DSL	See Plans for EarthLink
45 Mbps Internet	$64.95/mo.*	45Mbps	DSL	See Plans for EarthLink
75 Mbps Internet	$64.95/mo.*	75Mbps	DSL	See Plans for EarthLink
Fiber 100	$39.95/mo.*	100Mbps	Fiber	See Plans for EarthLink
Fiber 300	$49.95/mo.*	300Mbps	Fiber	See Plans for EarthLink
Fiber 500	$64.95/mo.*	500Mbps	Fiber	See Plans for EarthLink
Fiber 1 Gig	$74.95/mo.*	1,000Mbps	Fiber	See Plans for EarthLink
Fiber 2 Gig	$119.95/mo.*	2,000Mbps	Fiber	See Plans for EarthLink
Fiber 5 Gig	$189.95/mo.*	5,000Mbps	Fiber	See Plans for EarthLink
100 GB	$59.95/mo.^†	Up to 100Mbps	Fixed wireless	See Plans for EarthLink
150 GB	$84.95/mo.^†	Up to 100Mbps	Fixed wireless	See Plans for EarthLink
200 GB	$109.95/mo.^†	Up to 100Mbps	Fixed wireless	See Plans for EarthLink
300 GB	$159.95/mo.^†	Up to 100Mbps	Fixed wireless	See Plans for EarthLink
WFH Unlimited GB	$79.95/mo.^‡	Up to 25Mbps	Fixed wireless	See Plans for EarthLink
EarthLink LTE Home 50 GB–150 GB	$64.95–$149.95/mo.	Up to 100Mbps	Fixed wireless	See Plans for EarthLink

Data effective 11/05/2024. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

*with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas. DSL and Fiber Plans require a 12 month contract and may have a cancellation fee to be determined upon cancellation

†Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas. Exclusions like taxes & fees apply. Not available in all areas. Limited-time offer; subject to change.

‡With the Work From Home Unlimited Plan, you’ll enjoy speeds up to 25 Mbps for the first 300 GB of data usage each month; speeds will reduce if usage exceeds 300 GB within that month.

Additional resources

If you’d like to learn more about low-income programs and other ways to find affordable internet, there are lots of other articles on HighSpeedInternet.com to help you learn about the topic.

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Author - Peter Christiansen

Peter Christiansen writes about telecom policy, communications infrastructure, satellite internet, and rural connectivity for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years as a computer programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.

Editor - Jessica Brooksby

Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.