People in rural areas can get assistance on their internet bills through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This program helps low-income families afford an internet connection by subsidizing the cost of their internet bill. The ACP provides $30 per month toward a household’s internet bill, though households on Tribal land or in high-cost areas might be eligible for enhanced support of up to $75 per month. With certain plans, this subsidy can cover your entire internet bill.

To qualify, someone in your household must be enrolled in certain social programs (Lifeline, SNAP, WIC, National School Lunch Program, and others)—or you can qualify based on your income. This program replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program that was instituted in 2021 to help those dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rural households can also receive benefits through other programs. You can find out more in our in-depth analysis of government assistance programs for internet access.

Rural areas have lower population densities and cover greater distances, so ISPs get a much lower return on investment than they get in dense urban areas. Building infrastructure like underground cables and radio towers is an expensive process. And there isn’t enough competition among ISPs, so there’s often no motivation to expand into underserved areas.

In some areas, communities have addressed this problem by creating their own municipal broadband. These providers work as public utilities, providing faster speeds than even those available in the largest cities and at a fraction of the price for customers.

Many rural internet customers can save on their internet bill through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The goal of the ACP is to help every U.S. household have access to high-speed internet. Those currently enrolled in many other government assistance programs already qualify for the ACP, but many other low-income households are eligible as well.

There are also other government programs that can help you get cheap internet, as well as other tips and tricks that can get you cheap or free internet service.