Facebook post misstates eligibility for government internet access program | Fact check

BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAY
Updated ·4 min read
8

Corrections & Clarifications: This story was updated Jan. 30 to correctly describe the nature of a government program that offers free internet for some people and the involvement of a company advertising that program. The rating for this item was changed from False to Partly false.

The claim: Government program offers free internet, tablet to Americans making under $60,000

A Dec. 11, 2023, Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims Americans can save money through a government program.

“Big Wireless doesn’t want you to know this hack,” reads part of the post. “You can get FREE wireless internet + a Smart Tablet. The Affordable Connectivity Program – ACP – is a new government benefit program designed to make sure everyone is online.”

It goes on to claim that Americans making less than $60,000 per year and recipients of government programs such as Medicaid and Social Security are eligible for the free benefit.

It was shared more than 4,000 times in six weeks.

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Our rating: Partly false

The Affordable Connectivity Program offers a monthly discount on internet services that could fully cover costs for consumers who opt for certain internet providers and plans. But other elements of the post are overstated. The program offers a one-time discount on tablets or other electronic devices, but beneficiaries must contribute to the cost of the purchase. And the post oversimplifies the eligibility requirements, which are much lower than $60,000 for single people.

Eligibility varies by family size

The Affordable Connectivity Program offers discounts on internet service and electronic devices that may fully cover the cost of internet service for consumers who go through certain providers.

The Facebook post, however, “overstates the ACP benefits and misstates the eligibility criteria,” said Jaymie Gustafson, a spokesperson for the Universal Service Administrative Company, which administers the Affordable Connectivity Program.

It's especially off in its claim that all Americans making under $60,000 are eligible for the program. Households are eligible if the household income is at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines, which would be $30,120 for a single person or $62,400 for a family of four.

A household is also eligible if a member meets certain criteria, such as being a recipient of a Federal Pell Grant, Medicaid, the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or Supplemental Security Income.

Eligible households can receive up to $30 per month toward internet service or $75 per month if the household is on tribal land, according to information about the program on the Federal Communications Commission's website. The discounts mean that internet service may come at no cost to the consumer through certain companies, though specifics and availability vary by company and location.

For example, T-Mobile's $35 5GB data plan can be free for consumers who get $30 from the Affordable Connectivity Program and enroll in auto-pay, which gives them a $5 discount. Verizon also offers a discount through its Verizon Forward Program for customers who are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program which could fully cover internet costs.

Under the program, eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward the cost of a tablet, laptop or desktop computer, but beneficiaries must contribute between $10 and $50 toward the purchase.

Consumers have until Feb. 7 to apply for the program, as enrollments are ending due to a lack of additional Congressional funding, according to the program’s website.

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Two communications service providers are expanding high-speed internet to Livingston County communities
Two communications service providers are expanding high-speed internet to Livingston County communities

USA Phone, the page that published the post in question, is a marketing page for both Surge Phone and Torch Wireless, according to Henry Feintuch, a spokesperson for their umbrella company, Surge Pays. Both companies are listed as Affordable Connectivity Program providers on the FCC website.

USA TODAY has debunked an array of posts that fabricate or mislead on government benefits, including ones that claimed the government is giving Americans under 65 thousands of dollars in health credits each month, that the government was giving $8,500 to homeowners through a 2023 solar incentive program and that a government program allows Americans to get solar panels installed for free.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Post on government internet program misstates eligibility | Fact check