The Affordable Connectivity Program

If your student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals or attends a school where all meals are free (Community Eligibility Provision - CEP), your household may be eligible for reduced cost home internet access(WiFi). Eligible families can enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program and/or Oregon Lifeline by providing a copy of their approval letter. See below for more information about these programs.

If you need a copy of your approval letter or CEP notification letter, please contact the PPS Meal Benefits Office at mealbenefits@pps.net or 503.916.3402. 

If you would like to apply for meal benefits online, please go to SchoolCafe or contact the school cafeteria for a paper application.

Reduced cost of home internet (WiFi) through The Affordable Connectivity Program 

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford broadband internet service (WiFi) at home. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. You will need to complete the online application, and once you receive a verification letter that you qualify, you will provide that to an internet service provider to receive the $30/month discount.

For more information visit: Federal Communications Commission or Affordable Connectivity Program 

Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?

A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income internet program
• Participates in one of these assistance programs:
  • Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools.
    • If you need a copy of your Free and Reduced lunch certificate, please email mealbenefits@pps.net
  • SNAP (also referred to as food stamps)
  • Medicaid
  • Federal Housing Assistance, including:
    • Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers)
    • Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/Section 202/ Section 811
    • Public Housing
    • Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawaiians
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • WIC
  • Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
  • or Lifeline;
• Participates in one of these assistance programs and lives on Qualifying Tribal lands:
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Tribal TANF
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
  • Tribal Head Start (income based)

Oregon Lifeline - Reduced cost of phone or broadband service

Oregon Lifeline is a federal and state government program that reduces the monthly cost of phone or broadband service for qualifying low-income Oregon households. If you qualify, you could get one of the following benefits of the program with a participating service provider in your area:

• Receive a discount on your phone bill of $10.75 per month;
• Receive a discount on your broadband bill of up to $12.75 per month; or
• Receive free cell phone and data service

To qualify residents must receive one of the following benefits:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Veterans or Survivors Pension Benefit
• Or your total household income is at or below 135 percent of federal poverty guidelines
• If you need a copy of your Free and Reduced lunch certificated, please email mealbenefits@pps.net

For more information visit Oregon Lifeline or call 800-848-4442 or 503-373-7171

Digital Citizenship - Encourage Digital Safety & Citizenship

Be Internet Awesome: a new way to encourage digital safety and citizenship from Google geared toward younger grades. The program includes a range of specific resources for kids, educators and parents, so everyone has the tools they need to learn and participate in the conversation. To read more about the program, visit the following resources:

• “Be Internet Awesome”: Helping Kids Make Smart Decisions Online
• Top Digital Citizenship Resources for Teachers & Parents

Other Resources

Multnomah County Libraries - Free Internet/WiFi

There is free internet/WiFi available at Multnomah County Libraries. You may also qualify to borrow a hotspot through their Hotspot Lending Program. Visit the Multnomah County Libraries site for details.

EveryoneOn - Affordable Internet & Digital Skills Training

EveryoneOn helps unlock social and economic opportunity by connecting people in under-resourced communities to affordable internet service and computers, and providing digital skills training. Visit the EveryoneOn site for details.

Free Computer Program - Free Geek "Plug Into Portland"

PPS students can apply to the Free Geek "Plug Into Portland" program for a free computer. The program asks that students complete 24 hours of community service and attend a 2-3 hour class. Visit the Free Geek site for details.