More Than 13 Million Enrolled In Acp
About 14.5 million Americans and 22 percent of those 65 and older dont have access to high-speed internet, at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speed, the FCC estimates. Other estimates say that as many as 42 million people in the U.S. are on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Earlier this week the FCC said it hopes to release the first draft of a new national broadband map to the public in November and will allow local governments, tribes, and internet service providers to offer feedback to its preliminary findings starting Sept. 12. The map’s goal is to offer an accurate picture of the availability of fixed broadband internet access across the country.
The ACP doesn’t count the total number of people served through its program. Instead, it looks at households since utility bills serve addresses, not individuals. More than 13.5 million households were enrolled as of Sept. 5, according to the ACP website.
Puerto Rico has the highest rate of ACP enrollment per 1,000 households as of Sept. 5, according to the website. It has second-highest poverty rate, behind American Samoa, among states and territories that are part of the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey.
Louisiana, New Mexico, Kentucky and Ohio round out the top five for ACP enrollment rate. Those jurisdictions have the fourth-, fifth-, sixth- and 18th-highest percentages of residents living in poverty.
How Do At& t Senior Deals Work
Once you reach the age of 55, AT& T recognizes you as a senior citizen. And at that point, you may be able to take up the AT& T Unlimited 55+ plan, part of its Wireless cell phone network.
However, thats only available to those in the state of Florida . Were not 100% sure why that is the case, but there is no way around it. Youll need to provide your state ID in order to take up the deal.
In terms of home broadband deals, theres nothing out there specifically for seniors. It is a bit of a shame, but its not the end of the world because AT& T has some great deals for everyone right now. And there are further deals for those on low incomes.
The best deals for the internet are for its Fiber plans. That means lightning fast internet, and it comes at a great price with some cool perks. Well go into more detail of that in the next section.
You can find all the latest internet deals from AT& T here.
$65 Billion For Improving Broadband Access
The Affordable Connectivity Program is just a part of the roughly $65 billion to improve access to high-quality, high-speed internet access contained in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that Biden signed into law Nov. 15.
Some of that money will go toward what Kahsai calls digital equity. The new law allocates $2.75 billion for digital literacy training to make sure that everyone regardless of language, ability or age has the skills needed to take advantage of their connection to the internet.
About $42.5 billion is being allocated to bring high-speed internet to unserved areas that will benefit families of all incomes. These often include rural areas where population density is low and mountainous areas that can be challenging for companies to reach.
This new service also must have speeds of at least 100 Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads. Each state will start out with $100 million from that pot of money and will be able to get more based on its unserved and underserved needs.
With the new law, we have an opportunity to put a dent in the digital divide, Kahsai says.
Recommended Reading: Affordable Senior Housing In Florida
The Affordable Connectivity Program Can Help Pay For At& t Services
Among other things, the ACP allows qualified households to lower their internet or wireless costs by $30 per month, or by $75 per month if they live on Tribal lands. AT& T is participating in the program, and the ACP can help qualified customers pay for one of multiple different AT& T Internet and AT& T Wireless services.
What Is The Aarp Discount For At& t
With AARP enrollment, seniors who have bought AT& T are qualified to get a 10% rebate for any of your system designs. With fruitful execution of this arrangement, you will have the option to get plans with costs as low as $63.00 every month for one line and $112.5 every month for two lines rather than the standard charges of $70.00 every month for one line and $125.00 every month for two lines.
To check your eligibility for this plan, you need to check for the following:
- Proof of eligibility as per rules and regulations
- You have to be the primary wireless account holder
- You must have the AT& T Unlimited Elite plan
Also Check: Tai Chi Exercises For Seniors
At& t Senior Discounts: What You Can Expect
- AT& T offers one discounted cellular plan for seniors that starts at $40 per month, per line.
- As of 2022, AT& T Unlimited 55+ plans are only available to Florida residents.
- AARP members can save $10 per month per line on the AT& T Unlimited Elite Plan.
AT& T, one of the largest telecommunications companies, offers reliable nationwide 5G and affordable wireless discounts for seniors. They also offer discounts for AARP members, military veterans, and their families.
Additionally, AT& Ts wireless network covers more than 99 percent of Americans and 100 million U.S. consumers across mobile and broadband. Well discuss some of the ways seniors can save on mobile plans.
At& t Internet And Directv Bundle
At $119.99 per month, including a monthly $10 discount for the first 12 months, this package offers subscribers free access to NFLSUNDAYTICKETTV.MAX, a service that lets you stream live, out-of-market NFL games on the streaming device of your choice every Sunday afternoon. Youll also get free access to HBO MAX, Showtime, STARZ and Cinemax programming, regional sports networks and over 300 additional channels.
Don’t Miss: Care.com Reviews For Senior Care
Best At& t Internet Deals Right Now
While competitive pricing is always on the menu, AT& T mixes up its deals for new customers from time to time. Right now AT& Ts best deals are on its fiber plans. Here are the best AT& T internet deals going on now that you wont want to miss:
- $200 Visa Reward Card for subscribing to AT& T Fiber Internet 1000 or higher
- $150 Visa Reward Card for subscribing to AT& T Fiber Internet 500 or Internet 300
- 6 months free of Google Stadia Pro Pass with new AT& T Fiber internet service
- Free Wi-Fi gateway included in all AT& T Fiber plans
How To Get At& t Senior Discount
The good thing about AT& T is that they provide an extensive range of plans which are ideal for senior citizens. This will help the elderly people to remain connected with their near and dear ones, particularly if they are living alone.
Once you visit the website of AT& T, you will find information on different types of smartphones, flip phones, as well as various service plans. You will come across unlimited plans, commencing at $35 per line per month, featuring standard definition streaming, 5G access, as well as unlimited text, data, and talk.
As mentioned, AT& T does provide plans for seniors however, one cannot purchase these plans online. It will be imperative to visit the AT& T outlet personally and get hold of the offer after presenting your age proof. After making the purchase, you will come across comprehensive instructions on the support page of the website which will help to activate your plan. Apart from this, AT& T also comes with a toll-free number for providing wireless support.
Here, we have mentioned the various plans of AT& T that are intended for seniors.
- AT& T Senior Nation $29.99 per line per month
- AT& T Unlimited 55+ $40 per month
- AT& T Unlimited Starter $35
- AT& T Mobile Share Plus 9GB $45 $70 per line per month
Let us see the benefits of AT& T Senior Discount:
Read Also: Best Driver For Seniors 2021
Where Is At& t Internet Available
The internet package you receive as an AT& T customer really depends on your location within the US.
Earlier on, we mentioned that the best value for money and fastest speeds AT& T has to offer is through AT& T Fiber. But unfortunately, fiber internet is currently only available to select locations across the US.
They include a number of cities and towns in California, Florida, Texas and across the eastern states. However, AT& Ts coverage doesnt stretch as far as New York. There, youll need to check in with Verizon Fios or another provider.
To find out once and for all whether you can get Fiber in your location, check out the AT& T coverage map then input your address. This will show you all the deals you can get where you live.
If you see an AT& T Internet plan then youll need to stick to plain old non-fiber internet. But if the site offers you AT& T Fiber plans, then youre in luck!
A word to the wise: if you cant get fiber internet in your location right now, dont rule it out altogether. Check to see if any other providers in your area offer it. In most cases, it offers much better value than any other form of internet, so its worth looking for.
How Do I Get A Senior Discount At Att Internet
When you go to the AT& T website, you can learn about the different kinds of mobile phones, flip phones, and service plans they offer.
You can find unlimited plans that start at $35 for every line per month and include streaming in standard definition, 5G access, and unlimited texting, talking, and data.
AT& T does offer plans for seniors, as was said, but you cant buy these plans online.
You will have to go to the AT& T store in person and show proof of age in order to get the deal.
On the websites support page, youll find detailed instructions that will help you turn on your plan after youve paid for it.
In addition to this, AT& T also provides a toll-free number for wireless support.
Here, we talk about the different AT& T plans that are made for seniors.
AT& T Unlimited Starter, which costs $35 .
AT& T Smartphone Share Plus 9GB costs between $45 and $70 a month per line.
AT& T Senior Nation costs $29.99 a month per line.
AT& T Unlimited 55+ costs $40 per month for two lines.
Also Check: Jewish Senior Services Bridgeport Ct
At& t Fiber Internet 500
The next level up from the basic 300 Mbps plan is the AT& T 500 Mbps option. While the features are nearly the same, this plan has faster speeds making it ideal for a household with lots of people and lots of devices.
The plan offers speeds of 500 Mbps and is ideal for large households and devices. You can stream movies, Facetime, watch videos online, and play video games on multiple devices, all at the same time. Since this plan is Fiber-based, its fast, reliable, and a great way to upgrade a home to a place grandkids always want to be. The plan starts at $65/mo with no equipment fee.
Honorable mention: 1 Gig plan
As a quick honorable mention, the 1 Gig plan offers 1000 Mbps up and down and is ideal for very large households or those with home theatres, internet-based security systems, and lots of smart devices like Alexa or Google Home. Kids can stream and professionally game, Facetime, and more with these speeds.
I dont recommend this plan for everyone but for the rare power user .
This plan starts at $80/mo, and includes free HBO MAX.
What Are The Affordable Connectivity Program Benefits
ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 for those on qualifying Tribal lands, according to the FCC. Those who are eligible can also receive a one-time discount up to $100 for a purchase of a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers, if they pay more than $10 and less than $50 toward the device.
Only one monthly service discount and one device discount are allowed per household.
Those who qualify for the ACP also qualify for a $30-a-month plan through AT& T, thus making their internet free once the federal benefit is applied.
To get started, households must confirm they are eligible for ACP benefits and get approved. Once approved, call AT& T at 855-220-5211 to set up a plan.
Customers will see their benefits added within one billing cycle, Harris said.
Read Also: Aarp Free Cell Phones For Seniors
Final Thoughts On At& t Senior Deals
Initially, it feels like a bit of a shame that there arent more deals for seniors at AT& T. Sure, the Wireless Unlimited 55+ plan is pretty great, but theres nothing for those who want internet at home.
But, when you consider how good the AT& T Fiber internet plans are in terms of value for money, it begins to feel better. Its deals for everyone!
Those who cant get Fiber in their location might feel out of luck right now, but it may well be with you soon. In the meantime, shop around to find out what else is available.
Remember, AT& T isnt the only provider out there. Why not check out some of the Comcast Xfinity deals to see if theres anything there you can get as a senior?
At& t Unlimited 55+ Plan
If youre over the age of 55 and reside in the state of Florida, you qualify for the AT& T Unlimited 55+ Plan. With this plan, customers get two lines with unlimited talk, text, and data for $40 per month per line. With many other wireless companies charging upward of $60 per month for unlimited data, this offer is a great one for Florida residents. We cant wait for it to expand to other states.
Pro Tip: To learn more about discounted wireless plans, check out our guides to Verizon plans for seniors and T-Mobile plans for seniors.
Read Also: Stomach Flattening Exercises For Seniors
A Look At The At& t Deals For Seniors
As mentioned, AT& T only has one deal specifically for citizens. But dont let that rule you out from looking at further AT& T deals. There are a couple more discounts and savings that you can take advantage of no matter what age you are.
Heres an overview of whats available to those over the age of 55.
Look For Quality Customer Service
Customer service is often overlooked when comparing internet providers, but it can dramatically affect your overall internet experience. A fast connection doesnt do you much good if it doesnt work half the time and you cant get anyone to fix it.
The best internet providers not only have convenient agents you can contact over the phone, but they also have online chat options, helpful articles, and responsive technicians to help you fix whatever issues you encounter. You can see how different providers ranked for customer service in our customer satisfaction survey.
You May Like: Lantern Hill Senior Living Community
How Seniors Can Avoid Online Scams
People over the age of 60 are the most frequent victims of internet crime, losing over $1.68 billion to online scammers in 2021.1 Seniors should especially watch out for scams related to tech support and online dating.
Ways to ward off online scams:
- Install antivirus software on your computer .
- Use unique passwords for important sites like banks and your email.
- Never give your passwords out to anyone.
- Make your social media accounts private.
- Dont click on anything if youre not sure where itll take you.
- Never give out your personal information to someone you dont know.
- Never agree to send money or give out your credit card information to pay fees on free gifts or prizes.
Another way to protect yourself is to become familiar with some of the common scams that youll encounter on the internet. Once you know what youre looking for, many of these scams become fairly easy to spot.
Common scams to watch out for:
- Someone calling you and impersonating a bank representative, government official, or other authority figure
- An offer of tech support for a problem you didnt know you had
- An announcement that you won a content you didnt enter
Even if you think the issue might be genuine, you should never respond to the message. And definitely never send any money until you have double checked that the request is legitimate. Instead contact your bank, the appropriate government office, or a reputable tech support service to see if theres an actual problem.
Tips For Shopping Internet Service
The first step when shopping for home internet service is knowing the options available in your area. Depending on where you live, you may have a choice of internet service providers. The home internet plans available to you will depend on your address. You can use this tool to check the AT& T Internet service available at your address.
You will want to understand how to compare internet speeds. You can take an internet speed test to check the speed of your current internet plan. If you think you need a faster internet plan, you should consider how much speed you will need. Download speeds are important for things like quickly downloading large files and streaming videos. Upload speeds are important for things like online gaming and video calling. The difference in speed between internet plans can be pretty extreme. For example, Internet 1000, sometimes called 1 Gig Internet, has 25X faster uploads speeds than cable.1
Price may also be a consideration when choosing an internet plan. For customers looking for affordable internet plans, AT& T has plenty of options. Where available, you can get an AT& T Fiber plan starting as low as $55/mo. with no annual contract and equipment fees included. Pricing for AT& T Fiber plans is straightforward, meaning there is no price increase at 12 months and no equipment fees added.
Price plus taxes after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill. Other chrgs may apply.
You May Like: Albaugh Family Senior Community Center