Recertification

The Affordable Connectivity Program stopped accepting new applications and enrollments on February 7, 2024. The last fully funded month of the program is April 2024. Please refer to the FCC’s website at fcc.gov/acp for more information.

Important News: On January 11, the FCC released an Order announcing the wind-down requirements of the Affordable Connectivity Program, due to a lack of additional funding from Congress. On March 4, the FCC provided further information in a Public Notice that announced the last fully funded month of the program is April 2024. Providers currently participating in the ACP are strongly encouraged to review the FCC’s Order and Public Notice, which set out requirements regarding the specific and frequent notices to enrolled ACP households about the end of the program.

Recertification is an annual requirement for ACP subscribers. This process is completed to ensure that active ACP subscribers are still eligible for the benefit. Recertification will continue despite the ACP enrollment pause which went into effect on February 8, 2024.

Overview

Every subscriber that the National Verifier determined eligible will need to complete USAC’s ACP recertification process. These subscribers will first go through an initial automated database check that will check the subscriber’s eligibility. ACP subscribers who participate in the Lifeline Program and passed Lifeline recertification can rely on their Lifeline recertification.

Note: If a subscriber was determined eligible through an FCC-approved alternative verification process (AVP), the service provider is responsible for recertifying their subscribers by the end of each calendar year.

Subscribers whose eligibility cannot be verified via the USAC-conducted initial automated check will be required to complete the ACP Recertification Form (English or Spanish) and may be required to provide proof of eligibility. USAC will conduct outreach to these subscribers to inform them of the recertification requirement. Service providers can also contact their subscribers about the need to recertify timely.

Service providers will be able to see which subscribers are currently undergoing USAC-conducted recertification via the Recertification Subscriber Status Report in NLAD.

The chart below provides a high-level overview of the recertification process:
ACP recertification four step process chart

Initial Database Check

Every subscriber in the National Verifier recertification process will first go through an initial automated database check. Subscribers will only be checked for eligibility.

Subscribers who pass the check successfully recertify their benefit and will NOT need to take any further action
Subscribers who fail the check are required to complete the ACP Recertification Form (English or Spanish)
- Subscribers who fail the check, but passed their previous automated database eligibility check are required to complete the ACP Recertification Form and provide proof of eligibility

Recertification Reports in NLAD

Service providers will be able to see which subscribers are currently undergoing recertification via the Recertification Subscriber Status Report in NLAD, which is updated daily.

60-Day Recertification Window Opens

The initial mailing to subscribers to notify them of their recertification window will include:

A letter notifying them of their recertification requirement (English & Spanish)
A copy of the ACP Recertification Form (English & Spanish)

Automatic De-enrollment

If a subscriber does not successfully recertify within their 60-day window, USAC will notify the subscriber via mail within 2-3 business days after a subscriber’s window closes. The subscriber will be automatically de-enrolled from NLAD five (5) business days after the end of their recertification window.

After the de-enrollment, NLAD will send an automated email to notify the service provider that they have subscriber de-enrollments to review and the Recertification Subscriber Status Report will be updated. If a subscriber is de-enrolled after February 8, 2024, they cannot re-apply and re-enroll in the ACP.

Recertification Timeline

When the recertification process begins, automated recertification checks will occur every day and the 60-day recertification windows will be initiated every business day.

60-Day Recertification Window

USAC will conduct outreach to subscribers who did not pass the automated database check to inform them of their requirement to recertify.

Subscribers will receive an initial notice informing them that they are due for recertification. Service providers can also contact consumers to inform them about recertification, that they should have heard from USAC, and encourage them to recertify.

Recertification Application Types and Methods for Recertifying

ACP recertification application type chart showing S-applications and K-applications with the different methods to recertify

Recertify by Mail

Subscribers who fail the initial automated checks will receive a barcoded version of the ACP Recertification Form from USAC to submit via mail, but may also recertify via the other methods noted above.
Subscribers will NOT receive written notice that USAC received their form after it is submitted. However, subscribers can call the ACP Support Center at (877) 384-2575 to check the status of their application through an interactive voice response (IVR) system or the service provider can access this information via the Recertification Subscriber Status Report in NLAD.
If the subscriber passes recertification, USAC will mail a notification to the subscriber confirming the subscriber’s continued eligibility to receive the ACP benefit shortly after the successful recertification.

Recertify Online

Subscribers can recertify online via AffordableConnectivity.gov. Instructions for recertifying online are included in the letter to the subscriber.
Subscribers find out immediately whether they pass/fail.

Recertify by Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

Subscribers who are required to only complete the ACP Recertification Form (S-Applications) can complete recertification through the interactive voice response (IVR) system. This process will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Subscribers find out immediately whether they pass/fail.
Subscribers will need their Application ID (provided on the recertification letter) to enter the IVR.
Application ID is also available on the Recertification Subscriber Status Report in NLAD.

Recertification Reminders

During the 60-day period, subscribers may receive up to three (3) pre-recorded messages and a reminder postcard from USAC. Subscribers will receive scheduled reminders until they successfully recertify. Providers can only share recertification reminders with their subscribers.

Pre-recorded messages inform subscribers:

That it is time to recertify their benefit,
Of their deadline to recertify, and
That they can continue immediately to recertify using the IVR (only available to S-Applications), recertify online (URL provided), or complete and return the mailed recertification form.