NextLight’s discount enrollment grows after end of federal benefit
NextLight’s discount enrollment grows after end of federal benefit
NextLight’s new self-supported Internet Assistance Program is now helping more broadband customers than the federal program it replaced – the now defunct Affordable Connectivity Program – with Longmont’s community-owned internet service providing a $25/month discount to income-qualified NextLight customers.
As of mid-June, 926 NextLight customers had signed up for the Internet Assistance Program, including nearly all of the 906 customers who had been receiving help through the ACP. The ACP ended May 31 after its Congressional funding ran out, raising concerns nationwide that many internet customers would drop their service entirely once the federal discount ended.
“Our community knows the importance of staying connected, and we’re glad to see that residents who need help are finding it through NextLight,” said Valerie Dodd, NextLight’s executive director. “We will always be glad to support our customers and community to help them receive the high-speed reliable service they need.”
The discount mirrors a $25 benefit that NextLight offered at the start of the pandemic in 2020, before the federal government began to offer the ACP and its predecessor, the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Qualifying customers can receive NextLight’s 100-megabit connection for $14.95/month or its high-speed gigabit connection for $44.95/month.
Residential customers can apply online for the new Internet Assistance Program at https://mynextlight.com/internet-assistance-program or by calling NextLight at 303-774-4494. The program is open to current NextLight customers and new subscribers.
