AT&T and Cricket Wireless have opened enrollment for a new federal initiative to help low-income Americans afford broadband connections — in a move South Texas representatives say could particularly help San Antonio residents.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a $14.2 billion program designed to lower the cost of internet services by up to to $30 a month for qualifying households or up to $75 a month on eligible tribal lands.
The ACP, which was launched by the Federal Communications Commission on Dec. 31, is the permanent federal solution to the more temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit program adopted by the FCC last February. Those who currently receive EBB benefits will continue to receive those monthly benefits up to $50 a month until March 1.
The new ACP will expand the number of eligible participants by adding new ways to qualify — such as having an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level or receiving benefits from WIC.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that San Antonio is the eighth-worst metropolitan area when it comes to internet access, with nearly 30% of its residents lacking consistent high-speed internet.
According to Luis Silva, vice president and general manager of the South Texas region for AT&T, many San Antonio residents are unable to access the internet due to financial constraints rather than lack of availability.
AT&T has invested hundred of millions of dollars in the South Texas region in the past few years, so broadband and wireless are easy to obtain, he said — if you have the economic means to do so. He noted that the ACP will help bridge that digital divide.
"It's economic access — (it's) not that the services are not provided," he said.
With 25% of all Americans eligible for the new program, it will enable many residents of areas like south San Antonio — traditionally lower-income — to obtain consistent internet access.
"It gives them an equal, level playing field," Silva said. "During Covid a lot of the people who were unsuccessful in school ... were the ones that didn't have good access to broadband in South Texas."
To sign up, South Texans who have never received EBB can apply to the federal government’s National Verifier at ACPBenefit.org to see if they qualify for the program. Upon approval, participants can apply to order new AT&T internet or prepaid wireless service — or have the benefit applied to the service they already have.
Those receiving EBB will be contacted by the Universal Services Administrative Co. in order to reestablish eligibility.
John Dwyer, president of the AT&T Prepaid Portfolio, including Cricket Wireless, said the transition from the temporary program to the permanent ACP will enable the company to deliver a simple wireless experience for those in need of low-cost mobile broadband.
“This is great news for our customers,” he noted.
