Low-Income Assistance
Several low-income assistance programs are available to help you afford your communication services. To be eligible, you must meet income-based criteria or participate in specific programs.
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission program that provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households.
How do I apply?
There are two steps to enroll:
1) Go to GetInternet.gov to apply or print out a mail-in application.
2) Contact your preferred participating provider, such as Alliance Communications, to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill.
Get more details and eligibility criteria at fcc.gov/ACP?
What is Lifeline?
Lifeline is a federal government program that assists qualified low-income residents with a monthly reduction of $9.25/month on broadband Internet service or $9.25/month on telephone service.
What are the eligibility criteria for Lifeline?
You must meet income-based criteria currently defined as at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (see table below) or participate in at least one of the following programs: Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance, and Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit.
Lifeline Rules
Once you qualify, your household can get Lifeline for internet or telephone services, but not both. Your household can only get Lifeline from one internet company and it can only benefit per household, not per person. If more than one person in your household* gets Lifeline, you will break the FCC’s rules and lose your benefit.
*A household is a group of people who live together and share income and expenses, even if they are unrelated.
Do not give your benefit to another person.
Lifeline is non-transferable. You cannot provide your Lifeline benefit to another person, even if they qualify.
Be honest.
You must give accurate and true information on this form and on all Lifeline-related forms or questionnaires. If you give false or fraudulent information, you will lose your Lifeline benefit (i.e., de-enrollment or being barred from the program) and the United States government can take legal action against you. This may include (but is not limited to) fines or imprisonment.
You may need to show other documents.
You may need to show an official document from one of the qualifying programs or to prove your annual income. If you qualify through a government program: copies of your state ID card and an official document from the program you are qualifying through. (The document must contain your name.) If you qualify through your income: copies of your state ID card and pay stubs for three consecutive months (or other accepted documents). Visit lifelinesupport.org to see the full list of accepted documents.
How do I apply?
Garretson: 612 Third St.
Baltic: 501 Second St.
What is the Minnesota Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP)?
What are the eligibility criteria?
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Medical Assistance
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Supplemental Security Income
- Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension Benefit
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Head Start
- Food Distribution Program
- TAP is also available to those who are behind in paying their bills.
How do I apply?