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Optimum ACP Free and Discounted Plans

As a participant of the Affordable Connectivity Program, Optimum, a broadband service provider, offers low to no-cost internet service for eligible families. They offer internet and mobile services. You can choose to sign up for internet or mobile.

Optimum ACP Internet Plans

Optimum offers free high-speed internet for families who have signed up with the ACP program. There’s no contract, and all the necessary connectivity equipment is included. Optimum boasts a 99.9% reliability rate. There are three fiber Internet ACP plans as follows:

300Mbps

  • Cost for ACP participants: Free
  • Cost for non-ACP Participants: $40

500Mbps

  • Cost for ACP participants: $30*
  • Cost for non-ACP participants: $60

1Gb

  • Cost for ACP participants: $40*
  • Cost for non-ACP participants: $70
  • Current Promotion: $100 Visa prepaid card

*Pricing includes ACP credit, Auto Pay, and Paperless Billing

Optimum ACP Mobile Plans

The Affordable Connectivity Program grants qualified families a $30 monthly credit to apply to any of Optimum’s mobile plans. If you live on qualified Tribal lands, the credit is $75 per month. Optimum offers the following mobile plans:

Moderate User

  • Data: 3Gb
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 5G access
  • Cost for ACP participants: Free
  • Cost for non-ACP participants: $25 per month

Heavy User

  • Data: Unlimited (20Gb at premium speeds)
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 5Gb Hotspot
  • 5G access
  • Cost for ACP participants: $15 per month
  • Cost for non-ACP participants: $45 per month

Always Connected

  • Data: Unlimited (50Gb premium data)
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 15GB hotspot
  • 5G access
  • Cost for ACP participants: $25 per month
  • Cost for non-ACP participants: $55 per month

States of Operation:

While Optimum provides nationwide coverage, they only have store locations in the following states:

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia

If you live in one of the above states and wish to take advantage of the free or low-cost Optimum Internet/mobile service, enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program. To enroll, you must satisfy at least one of the following low-income criteria:

  1. You or someone in your household participates in one of the following government assistance programs:

    • Medicaid
    • Federal Housing Assistance (Section 8)
    • Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program
    • SNAP
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    • WIC
    • Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
    • or Lifeline

      • If you live on qualified Tribal lands and participate in any of the following programs:

    • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
    • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
    • Tribal Head Start
    • Tribal TANF
  2. Have a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or

  3. Be the recipient of a Pell Grant during the current year.

Applying for Benefits

After you’ve met the qualification criteria, visit the Getinternet.gov website and apply. Make sure you have the necessary documents to prove your eligibility. If you’re unsure as to what documents you need, you can find a listing on the Acceptable Document Guide for the Affordable Connectivity Program.

If you prefer to apply via mail, download Form FCC 5645, complete it and mail it with the necessary documentation to the address listed on the form.

Online approval may take anywhere from 30 minutes or longer, depending on the volume of applicants and the accuracy of the documentation provided. Sometimes, documents may need to be verified. And you can guess that applying by mail will take much longer.

Signing up for Optimum Service

Once approved, visit the Optimum site, and complete their application. You must use the same information on the Optimum website as you used to apply for ACP benefits. Any change in information may cause your application to be denied.

It takes Optimum about five business days to notify you of application approval. Once approved, it takes up to two billing cycles for the ACP credit to be applied.

Things to Know

  1. To maintain your ACP benefits, you must re-certify annually to prove you still meet the eligibility criteria.

  2. Only one ACP benefit is allowed per household.

  3. If you move, you must first update your address with Getinternet.gov. Then, you must re-apply for service with your new address.

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Last Modified: 15 June 2023
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