If you signed up for ACP and your discount disappeared, you did nothing wrong. The program ran out of money. This page says what remains, how to apply, and what to say to any provider, including us.
Takeaways
- ACP ended June 1, 2024 (USAC).
- Lifeline pays up to $9.25 a month toward phone or internet, and up to $34.25 on Tribal lands (USAC, read 10/15/26).
- You qualify through income at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or through a program such as SNAP or Medicaid.
- High Desert is not presented here as a Lifeline provider; ask the office about your situation.
What was the Affordable Connectivity Program?
ACP was a federal program that took money off the monthly internet bill for qualifying households. USAC, the nonprofit that runs the federal programs, states on its ACP page that the program ended on June 1, 2024, due to a lack of additional funding from Congress. No page on this site treats it as current, and anyone offering you a free internet deal under that name today deserves a second look. The FCC's July 2026 order on broadband labels dropped its references to ACP as well (FCC 26-48).
What does Lifeline pay today?
Lifeline is the older program, set up long before ACP. USAC's Lifeline page describes it as a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 toward phone or internet service, and up to $34.25 for households on Tribal lands. It goes to the household's service from a company that takes part in the program.
For fixed home internet, USAC's minimum service standards set the floor for a fixed plan at 25 megabits down and 3 up, with a monthly data allowance of 1,280 GB. The FCC extended the data standards through December 1, 2027 (FCC DA 26-796, released July 29, 2026). Those are the program's rules for companies that join it. They are not a description of any High Desert plan.
Who qualifies for Lifeline?
Two routes. One is income: a household at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The other is membership in a qualifying program, such as SNAP or Medicaid. You apply through the National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org, which checks eligibility and tells you which participating companies serve your address. Have a recent proof of income or program letter ready.
How do you apply, step by step?
Start at lifelinesupport.org and answer the questions about your household. The National Verifier checks whether you qualify, and you may be asked for a proof document. Once approved, you pick a participating company and give it your approval number. Ask the program how it treats more than one person in a household before you apply.
Keep in mind that the benefit is a credit against a company's service, not a payment to you. If you already have a plan with a company that takes part, ask it to apply the credit. If a company does not take part, no credit can be used there. Never pay anyone to apply for you, and be careful with a caller or a text who says your benefit is about to end unless you act today. The guide to scams that target older adults lists the usual lines.
What help exists in Nevada?
We found no Nevada program that replaces ACP. The state's Office of Science, Innovation and Technology publishes county sheets that list low-cost plans by provider, but they are undated and may be out of date, so call a provider rather than rely on them. Nevada's High Speed NV build-out is a construction program for new networks. It lowers no one's bill today. See the High Speed NV guide for what it does.
What can you ask a provider about price?
Ask what the price is a month, whether it changes after a set period, what the contract term is, and what is due on the first day. High Desert publishes three prices, Bronze $50, Silver $75 and Gold $99 a month, and states that it has no contracts (hdiss.net, read 10/15/26). It does not publish a senior, income or military discount, and we are not going to tell you one exists. If you want to ask whether the company can help in your case, call the office.
Read the guide to the real cost of an internet plan before you compare quotes, and the seniors page for the plans in one place. If you want a person to look at your address, send it in and someone looks at the path from the nearest tower and calls you back. A call to 775-575-9593 works too, any day from 9 to 5.
Sources
- usac.org/about/affordable-connectivity-program/ (USAC, ACP ended June 1, 2024; read 10/15/26)
- usac.org/lifeline/ (USAC, Lifeline benefit; read 10/15/26)
- usac.org/lifeline/rules-and-requirements/minimum-service-standards/ (USAC; read 10/15/26)
- docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-796A1.txt (FCC DA 26-796)
- docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-26-48A1.pdf (FCC 26-48)
- hdiss.net/services/ (High Desert plan cards, read 10/15/26)