How to Get Comcast Free Internet (Step by Step Guide)

The Comcast free internet is available through the Federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). You can get it as a new Comcast client or a participant in the Xfinity Internet Essentials customer. However, only eligible low-income individuals and households can access the ACP discount.

The government launched the ACP on December 31, 2021, as a replacement for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). Qualifying households get a $30 (or $75 for Tribal Lands) discount on their monthly internet bills. Combining that with Internet Essentials makes it possible to enjoy free or highly-discounted internet.

Key Takeaways

Comcast’s free internet is available to individuals and families that qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Application for Comcast free internet is via the company’s website, the ACP website, or via snail mail
When applying for the ACP, you must provide documents proving your identity, address, and eligibility

How to Get Comcast Free Internet Via the ACP

Only qualifying families can get Comcast free internet. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established stringent eligibility criteria that ACP applicants must meet. Prospective clients can check if they meet eligibility for the ACP by going to the National Verifier website.

The National Verifier is an agency of the United Services Administration Company (USAC). Through their website, people can submit their applications for the ACP discount. Of course, applicants must submit documents proving their eligibility for the ACP.

Here are some of the ways to qualify for Comcast’s free internet:

1. Income-Based Eligibility

Is your income twice or under the federal poverty guidelines? If your answer is affirmative, you qualify for an ACP discount. The Federal government revises the poverty guidelines from time to time. Therefore, the income thresholds may change with time.

Also, the ACP income thresholds depend on the location. In 48 states and U.S. territories, the poverty guidelines are uniform. Elsewhere in the country, people have different poverty guidelines. The following table summarises the ACP income thresholds based on the 2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines:

Number of people in household	Alaska	Hawaii	48 States, Washington DC, and Territories
1	$33,980	$31,260	$27,180
2	$45,780	$42,120	$36,620
3	$57,580	$52,980	$46,060
4	$69,380	$63,840	$55,500
5	$81,180	$74,700	$64,940
6	$92,980	$85,560	$74,380
7	$104,780	$96,420	$83,820
8	$116,580	$107,280	$93,260
For each additional person, add	$11,800	$10,860	$9,440

For an individual resident of Alaska and Hawaii, the ACP income thresholds are $33,980 and $31,260, respectively. These figures are slightly higher than those for 48 American states, Washington DC, and territories. Essentially, it is easier to qualify for the ACP in Alaska and Hawaii than in the rest of the country.

If your family has five members, you would require an annual income of $81,180 in Alaska, $74,700 in Hawaii, and $64,940 in the rest of the United States. For every additional family member, you’ll need to earn an extra $11,800, $10,860, and $9,440 in Alaska, Hawaii, and the rest of America, respectively.

2. Participation in Provider Programs

Individuals already participating in Comcast programs such as Internet Essentials can automatically qualify for the ACP. That’s because part of the qualification criteria for the ACP is the same as that for Internet Essentials. The following are the two Comcast Xfinity programs that you can use to apply for the ACP:

Internet Essentials: This is a no-contract arrangement through which you’ll get free equipment with no credit checks. For $9.95 per month, you’ll get internet speeds of up to 50Mbps.
Internet Essentials Plus: The Internet Essentials Plus package costs $29.95 per month. It is a no-contract, no-credit-check arrangement that provides free equipment. It offers 100Mbps and can be free when covered by the ACP discount.

3. Participation in Lifeline Assistance

The FCC offers the Lifeline program to low-income households needing phone and internet services. Through it, each family gets a $9.25 (or $34.35 on Tribal Lands) discount towards the monthly phone bill and a phone.

Since some of the qualification criteria of the ACP are similar to that of the Lifeline program, beneficiaries automatically qualify for the ACP. Lifeline Assistance beneficiaries automatically qualify for the ACP.

4. Participation in Lifeline-Eligible Programs

If you don’t participate in Lifeline Assistance yet, you can still qualify for the ACP if you meet the Lifeline eligibility criteria. Therefore, if you benefit from any of the following programs, you’ll be eligible for Comcast free internet:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Medicaid
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit

5. Benefit from Tribal Assistance

Besides the Lifeline-eligible programs listed above, you can qualify for Lifeline Assistance if you benefit from any available Tribal assistance programs. Of course, the type of program will depend on your residence. Here are some of the Tribal programs that can enable you to qualify for free internet from Comcast:

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Tribal Head Start (only for those who meet income eligibility)
Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (Tribal-TANF)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

6. Participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Does any of your children participate in the National School Lunch Program? There are several Federal and state-based free or reduced-price lunch programs in which K-12 students participate. An example is the school breakfast and lunch program provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to those attending community schools.

7. Benefit from the Federal Pell Grant

One of the easiest ways to get free internet from Comcast of by benefitting from the Federal Pell Grant. It is a program through which needy first-time undergraduate students get sponsorship for their education. The funds are available for free and do not require paying back. You’ll qualify for the Comcast free internet if you have documentation proving your participation in the Federal Pell Grant.

8. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

In households that benefit from the nutrition program for women, infants, and children, it is easier to get free internet from Comcast. They must prove their participation in the program by providing the necessary documents.

How to Apply for Comcast Free Internet

USAC is the federal body that administers the ACP and Lifeline Assistance. It has established a simple application mechanism for prospective users to apply for Comcast free internet. Once you have verified your eligibility, you can go ahead and fill out the application form in any of three ways – online, mail-in, or via the Comcast website:

The following are the different ways of presenting your application for the ACP:

1. Online Application

On the ACP or National Verifier websites, prospective beneficiaries of free internet from Comcast can fill out the application form. All they need is to take the following steps to complete the application process:

Step 1: Visit the ACP or National Verifier website.
Step 2: Pick your home state. If you’re on the National Verifier website, first verify your eligibility.
Step 3: Click Get Started.
Step 4: When the ACP application form opens, fill it out. Provide all the required information.
Step 5: It may take several steps to complete the application. Keep pressing Next to the end. Attach all the necessary documents and press Finish.

2. Mail-In Application

Some applicants find it difficult to send their ACP applications online. For these individuals, the best option is to mail in their applications. In that case, you must print out, fill out, and submit your application via mail. You may use the following steps:

Step 1: Go to the ACP website, download, and print the application form.
Step 2: Fill out the form, providing all the necessary information.
Step 3: Attach copies of all the required documents to prove your identity, address, and eligibility.
Step 4: Send the application to the ACP via the following address: ACP Support Center, P.O. Box 7082, London, KY, 40742

3. Application Via Comcast

Comcast Xfinity allows users to apply for free internet directly through their website. It is easier for those already using the Xfinity Internet Essentials to apply via the website. However, that doesn’t mean that non-customers cannot apply. Here are the steps you may take to complete your application:

Step 1: Shop for an internet plan if you’re not already a member. If you find a suitable internet plan, select it. Internet Essentials and Internet Essentials Plus are good options for the Comcast free internet.
Step 2: Check your eligibility for the ACP via the National Verifier. The Comcast website also has reference resources, which you can use.
Step 3: Apply for the ACP by completing the enrollment form. You may do that on your phone or using a web browser—upload digital copies of all the required documents together with the application form.
Step 4: Wait for Comcast to review and approve your application. Approval may happen within a few minutes or up to a week. You’ll receive a notification via SMS, email, or snail mail.
Step 5: Start using Comcast’s free internet after installing a modem and Wi-Fi router. Follow the included instruction to set up your equipment correctly.

Once you have handed in your application, you should wait for the approval. If you apply via the ACP (online or mail-in), you’ll get a notification from USAC. Otherwise, Comcast will inform you of the approval.

The next step is picking an internet plan for those who applied via the ACP. Settle on a plan such as Internet Essentials or Internet Essentials Plus to get free internet from Comcast via the ACP. Otherwise, you might have to top up with a small monthly fee.

Documents Required to Apply for Comcast Free Internet

You need to attach particular documents to your application to prove your identity, address, and eligibility for the ACP. Therefore, collecting all the necessary documents is prudent before commencing the application process.

Here are the different categories of documents you should have to complete your application successfully:

1. Documents Proving Your Identity

You may only get Comcast free internet by proving your identity. That’s because the Federal government and Comcast want to know who they are dealing with. Proof-of-identity documents should contain your name, age, date of birth, and social security number. With any of the following documents, you should be able to prove your identity:

Federal Assistance Program Document
Birth Certificate
A valid Tribal, military, state, or government ID
Passport
U.S. Driver’s License
Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
Certificate of Naturalization
Permanent Resident Card or Green Card

2. Address Verification Document

As part of the application for free internet from Comcast, you must provide your residential address. Besides stating your address, you must provide documents proving it. You need an official document that bears your official name and physical address.

The following are some of the eligible address verification documents:

A valid Federal, state, military, or Tribal ID
A current utility bill
Tax returns (Tribal, Federal, or state) or the most recent W-2
Driver’s License
Lease or mortgage agreement

3. Proof-of-Income Documents

You can only show that you are eligible for Comcast free internet by proving your income. Comcast and USAC will assess these documents before approving your application. The ideal document should have your name and show the annual household income. Any of the following documents should suffice when applying for free internet from Comcast:

A current paycheck stub
Tax returns (Federal, state, or Tribal) for the previous year
A Social Security benefits statement
Veterans Administration benefits statement
Employer income statement
A retirement/pension benefits statement
Worker’s Compensation or Unemployment benefits statement
Divorce decree or child support award
Any other official document with annual income

4. Proof of Federal Assistance Benefit

To qualify for free internet from Comcast, you may need to prove that you benefit from an assistance program. Despite the type of assistance program you have, the required documents are the same.

You need an official document bearing the name of the beneficiary, the issuing institution, and the date of issuing. Ensure the document is for the current years and unlikely to expire within the next 12 months.

The following are some of the documents you can present to USAC or Comcast to support your application for free internet:

Benefit award letter
Approval letter
School documentation
Statement of benefits
Benefit verification letter

Besides the documents listed above, emancipated minors must provide documents proving their status. Eligible documents include a document from the court or a certificate of emancipation. With these documents, you can prove that you are no longer an adult but can enter into a legal contract.

The Bottom Line

You can quickly get Comcast free internet if you’re eligible for the ACP. You must have an annual household income twice the poverty guidelines or participate in an assistance program. Once you’re sure of your eligibility for the discount, you should hand in your application.

Comcast allows ACP-eligible customers to pick a suitable internet plan. Therefore, you should choose one that will enable you to get your monthly charges paid entirely by the ACP discount. Internet Essentials and Internet Essentials Plus are perfect plans for that.