Consumer Resources

Affordable Connectivity Program

The ACP is no longer accepting applications. As of February 7, 2024, the program stopped accepting applications. The last fully funded month of the program is April 2024. Your internet company will let you know when the discount on your monthly bill will end. ACP households may receive a partial ACP discount from their internet company in May 2024.

ACP enrolled households are strongly encouraged to carefully review written notices from their internet company and from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) about the ACP wind-down.  For more information view fact sheets on the FCC’s ACP wind-down webpage.

Households are also encouraged to consult their Internet Service Provider to learn more about how the end of the ACP will impact their internet service and bill.

Charter/Spectrum: Low-Income Broadband Program

In August 2024, The New York State Public Service Commission reached a settlement agreement with Charter Communications, Inc., parent company of broadband provider Spectrum, which operates in 58 out of the 62 counties in New York State, requiring the communications company to provide discounted broadband service to low-income customers enrolled in the National Free School Lunch Program or if they receive Supplemental Security Income benefits. The settlement requires Charter to re-establish a pricing tier of $15/month for 50 Mbps download speed for four years. For years two through four of the program Charter can’t raise the price by more than the rate of inflation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, beginning in second year of the program. Check to see if you are eligible by calling the nearest Spectrum office. 

Lifeline

Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet service.  Eligible consumers can get up to $9.25 off the cost of phone, internet, or bundled services.  Learn more about Lifeline. 

The map below can help you identify providers in your area.

New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) Broadband Map: Search an address on a map for providers who report offering internet service in the area.  If this map does not accurately reflect the internet service providers that actually offer service to your home, we encourage you to let DPS know by using the feedback tab to the right of the map.

The New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) provides users the opportunity to test their Internet connection bandwidth using a speed test. The speed test will measure a few data points:

• Download Speed: How quickly content is transferred to your computer in Mbps (megabits per second). This is particularly important if you use the Internet to stream video or gaming.
• Upload Speed: How quickly you are able to upload content to the Internet in Mbps. This is particularly important if you often use the Internet to share videos, music and images.
• Ping/Jitter: This refers to the amount of latency in a network, or the amount of time it takes data to travel from one computer to another on a network.

TAKE THE SPEED TEST

How Much Internet Speed Do You Need?

• Light users primarily use the Internet for basic functions such as email, browsing, basic video, VoIP, and Internet radio.
• Moderate users rely on basic functions plus one high-demand application such as streaming HD video, multiparty video conferencing, online gaming or telecommuting.
• High users rely on basic functions plus more than one high-demand application running at the same time.

For an estimate on how much speed you need, use the FCC's Household Broadband Guide.

There's an App for That

The FCC has an app to check the speed on your mobile device or in-home network. The FCC Speed Test App is available in the Google Play Store for Android devices, and in the Apple App Store for iOS devices. Search "FCC Speed Test" in either store to find and download the App.

New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) Broadband Map

The first iteration of the New York State Department of Public Service Broadband Map was released in June 2022. The map and it’s accompanying report will be updated annually. The full report may be obtained by going to the DPS Documents section at the bottom of the DPS website and entering Matter Number 21-02182 in the input box labeled “Search by Case Number".

FCC National Broadband Map

The National Broadband Map provides information about the internet services available to individual locations across the country, along with new maps of mobile coverage, as reported by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the FCC’s ongoing Broadband Data Collection.