How To Get Low-Income Internet Through Mediacom

With the Affordable Connectivity Program closed and the benefits ceased, households that depended on the discount now face paying the standard internet rate or seeking a more affordable option. Mediacom may have the solution they need.

Mediacom has been offering low-cost internet to households for years. But its new offering aims to bring a better megabits-per-dollar value to families struggling to stay online. We’ll dive into Mediacom’s new program and provide information about how you can apply for Lifeline to save even more money each month.

First, here’s what happened with Mediacom when the ACP ended

April 2024 was the last fully funded month of the ACP. Medicom allowed customers to:

• Discontinue service with no termination fees
• Continue their service at the standard rate (or at the current promotional rate for new customers)
• Change their Xtream Internet plan

Beginning in May 2024, billing statements did not include the ACP benefit. Customers must pay the standard, undiscounted rate unless they still receive the introductory pricing. Standard rates apply when the promotional pricing ends.

Mediacom customers on a tight budget can apply for Mediacom’s Xtream Connect program, which starts at $14.99 per month. They can also apply for the government’s Lifeline program, which offers a discount of up to $9.25 per month for low-income families or up to $34.25 for subscribers on Tribal lands.

What is Xtream Connect?

Xtream Connect is a new program offered to qualifying low-income households. It replaces the previous Connect2Compete Plus (C2C+) program, offering speeds of up to 100Mbps starting at $14.99 per month. There are no contracts, download usage limits, or deposits required.

Mediacom customers can also apply for the government’s ACP alternative, Lifeline, to reduce their monthly internet costs even more.

Who qualifies for the Xtream Connect program?

Eligibility for the Xtream Connect program requires one member of your household to be enrolled in at least one of the following programs:

• Federal Pell Grant recipients in the current award year
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), including Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers), Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/202/811, Public Housing, and Affordable Housing programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians
• Lifeline Program administered by the Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC)
• Medicaid
• National Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Tribal Assistance Programs
• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

In addition to supplying proof of enrollment in the programs listed above, potential subscribers must also meet the following criteria:

• Does not have an outstanding balance with Mediacom
• Lives in an area where Mediacom already provides internet service

How do you apply for the Xtream Connect program?

Mediacom relies on the SheerID online verification tool to check your qualifications. To start the process, you select one of the following:

• CEP (Community Eligibility Provision, Title 1/LAP)
• Other Government Assistance Recipient
• SNAP Benefits Recipient

After that, enter your date of birth, physical address and email address, and click the Verify My Status button.

Apply for Xtream Connect Now

Low-cost options from Mediacom

Mediacom lists “no downstream usage limits” with its Xtream Connect plan, meaning there’s no data cap on your downloads. But your uploads are a different story: Send more than 1TB in a single month, and your upload speed is reduced to 10Mbps (normally 20Mbps) during the same billing period.

Other perks associated with Xtream Connect include:

• No installation fees
• No contracts
• No deposit

The price listed above doesn’t include the $14 modem fee. To get the modem fee waived, your household must:

• Have at least one K–12 student who receives free or reduced lunch through the NSLP or
• Have a compatible modem purchased from a third-party retailer

Finally, the Xtream Internet 250 plan listed above is not part of the Xtream Connect program. It’s Mediacom’s cheapest plan, and depending on where you live, it can cost more than twice the starting price each month after the first year.

Other providers with low-income programs

Other options may be available if you don’t qualify for the Xtream Connect program and the base 100Mbps plan’s standard rate is too expensive for the long term. Here are some other internet providers with similar programs and internet plans:

• Access from AT&T
• Spectrum Internet Assist
• Frontier
• CenturyLink

Additional resources

• Government Programs To Make Internet Service More Affordable
• How To Get Free and Low-Cost Internet
• Best Internet Deals
• Best Internet Plans and Discounts for Seniors
• Best Internet Plans and Discounts for Students
• Best Internet for Veterans and Military Families
• Best Internet for Veterans and Military Families
• The End of the ACP

Mediacom low-income internet FAQ