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Digital Equity in New York State

This guide provides an overview of digital equity initiatives at the state level, as well as resources and materials to support digital equity practitioners across New York.

The FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.

The benefit provides a discount of:

  • Up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households;
  • Up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands; and
  • Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

Learn more by visiting the FCC's ACP webpage or calling 877-384-2575. 

Resources for Digital Equity Practitioners

Outreach Tools and Resources 

The ACP Outreach Toolkit contains free, customizable materials intended for public use to help spread awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

GetACP.org is a virtual mobile assistant designed to simplify the ACP enrollment process. 

EducationSuperHighway has developed a Local Leaders Toolkit that provides best practices for closing the digital divide in cities across the country.

NDIA has developed a webpage dedicated to Asset Mapping, an approach to digital inclusion that centers on identifying and building upon a community's existing resources. 

Universal Service Administrative Company has a step-by-step guide to applying for ACP.

Pilot Programs and Grants 

A detailed overview of the goals set forth by the ACP Outreach Grant Program can be found here. 

The ACP Federal Housing Assistance Pilot Order seeks to establish the one-year pilot program, “Your Home, Your Internet”, to increase awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program to those receiving federal housing assistance.  

Public notice concerning the “Your Home, Your Internet” and “Affordable Connectivity Program Navigator” Pilot programs. 

Data and Reports 

EducationSuperHighway has released their second No Home Left Offline report, providing details on the barriers to widespread broadband adoption and how leaders can accelerate the adoption of the ACP. Download and read the full report here. 

EducationSuperHighway’s ACP Dashboard breaks down ACP enrollment progress by state and city. 

The ACP Dashboard visualizes the enrollment data provided by the Universal Service Administrative Company’s ACP Enrollment and Claims Tracker. 

Track ACP enrollment by state, county, and zip code with the ACP Enrollment and Claims Tracker. 

The FCC has released an updated version of their Broadband Map.

NYS Library & FCC "Train-the-Trainer" Session

The NYS Library and Keyla Hernandez-Ulloa, Associate Chief, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division with the FCC, presented a Train-the-Trainer session about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) on February 28, 2022. Look through the presentation slide deck to find the tools you need to teach others in your community, especially those who may benefit, about this program.