It may be possible for some individuals to reduce their internet bills significantly through the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Most things feel more expensive than they should because of the worst inflation in decades.

A discount on your internet bill may be available to you if you or someone in your household have been struggling financially.

It is estimated that this will result in a savings of $30 per month for many families. It's even better for tribal members. They get $75 a month off.

To close the digital divide, the FCC launched the Affordable Connectivity Program earlier this year. I'd love for you to take a minute with me to learn how the ACP works, even if you don't benefit directly from it.

Fortunately, the steps are straightforward.

1. Find out if you qualify

The ACP can be accessed in a variety of ways. It might be that your household earns less than a certain level. If you are a family of four earning less than $55,500 a year in the continental United States, you may qualify for the discount if you are making less than $27,500 a year. There's also a discount for people on Medicaid, veterans pensions, and Pell Grants.

The Affordable Connectivity Program website has the full list of qualifiers.

If you are considering using a new internet provider, make sure they are part of the program. Verizon, AT&T, and Xfinity are some of the big-name internet providers that participate in the ACP, but smaller, more regional providers may not.

To find out if the program is available, you can visit the Universal Service Administrative Company's website. It has been our experience that despite having participating companies in a specific area, that site does not display any results - if this is the case for you, you may wish to contact the internet provider directly.

2. Fill out an application

To begin working on an application for the Affordable Connectivity Program if you qualify for it - or if you want to double-check that you do qualify - visit the Affordable Connectivity Program website to find out if you do. It's not necessary to print and mail the form.

Your name, address, and your Social Security Number, or another form of official ID, are asked for on that online form. Proof of income may also be required if you qualify.

3. Contact your internet provider

Almost all the work is done once the USAC approves your ACP application. To activate that monthly discount, simply contact your Internet provider. Some of the time, you can do that directly on your provider's website, but in some cases, you will have to contact their customer service department by phone to get this information.

In addition, some of these companies also offer low-cost internet plans that are designed to work with the ACP discount, which means you or someone you know may be able to gain access to the internet almost for free.