CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The monumental shift to online work, school, communication and entertainment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed American life, with low-income families in particular feeling the strain.

As Southern Utah’s hometown internet service provider, InfoWest is committed to helping Utahns get online and gain the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital economy. Introducing the Affordable Connectivity Program, a long-term benefit created to help eligible households nationwide cover the cost of high-speed internet.

“We’re proud to be a part of it,” said Josh Kaneversky, director of marketing for InfoWest. “It’s a great way for families to save money, and we encourage everyone who qualifies to enroll. If you qualify, you can get your internet for free.”

How to enroll

Eligible households must apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program at this website. After completing the application process, they’ll be assigned a unique identification code to give to their internet service provider. InfoWest will then use that information to add the appropriate discount to their monthly bill.

With InfoWest, participants in the Affordable Connectivity Program have the flexibility to utilize their monthly discount for any speed or service (fiber, FiberWave or wireless), allowing them to choose the plan that best suits their household’s needs. Customers living in an InfoWest fiber area can enjoy speeds of up to 100 megabits per second for $0 per month. If fiber isn’t available, they can connect via a wireless plan offering speeds of up to 25 Mbps.

Bridging the connectivity gap

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a $14.2 billion federal benefit funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and administered by the Federal Communications Commission. It provides eligible households nationwide with a monthly discount of up to $30 per month (up to $75 per month for households on qualifying tribal lands) toward broadband internet service and a one-time $100 discount toward the purchase of a laptop computer, a desktop computer or a tablet.

Data shows that nearly 350,000 Utah households qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, yet less than 20% of eligible recipients have enrolled. Earlier this summer, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity announced the “ACP Act Now: Utah” initiative to increase awareness of the program and help close the broadband affordability gap for low-income residents. InfoWest has joined a statewide coalition of 53 partner cities, community-based organizations and institutions working toward these goals.

How to qualify

In order to be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, one or more people within a household must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Has an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• Participates in specific assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC or Lifeline.
• Engages in tribal-specific programs such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.
• Contains a child who received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program in the past 12 months.
• Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year.
• Meets the eligibility requirements for a participating internet service provider’s existing low-income program.

Both new and existing InfoWest customers are encouraged to enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program if they qualify. Participants will need to verify eligibility every year to continue receiving benefits until the program’s funds have been exhausted or the program ends.

Why choose InfoWest?

“The Internet People” at InfoWest have been keeping Southern Utahns connected since 1994. InfoWest is big enough to provide competitive speeds and reliable connectivity, yet small enough to understand the value of local customer service. When subscribers experience network issues, they dial a 435 phone number and get prompt assistance from people who live and work in their community.

Residential internet from InfoWest is now faster than ever, with no data caps, no bandwidth metering and speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second in certain areas. Plus, InfoWest doesn’t lock customers into a contract. Subscribers can pay month-to-month plus a monthly rental fee and have their equipment installed at no extra cost. 

“If you have any questions, give us a call,” Kaneversky said. “We’d love to help people get free internet.”

Learn more about InfoWest’s products, services and community outreach on their website.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D  C O N T E N T • 

Resources

• InfoWest | Telephone: 435-674-0165 | Website.
• Locations:
  • St. George: 435 E. Tabernacle St.
  • Cedar City: 360 W. 200 North.

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