Los Angeles Internet Discounts 2026–27: WeLink's $25 County Plan, the New California LifeLine Broadband Discount, and Low-Income ISP Plans
Updated: 7 hours ago
The ACP's $30 credit is gone, but Los Angeles households still have real ways to cut the internet bill. Here are LA County's WeLink network, California LifeLine's new broadband discount, provider low-income plans and federal Lifeline, ranked by price, with how to stack them.
AT A GLANCE
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When the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended, a lot of Los Angeles households lost a $30 monthly credit overnight. California's Broadband for All office confirms the ACP and its monthly discount ended on June 1, 2024. If you are still waiting for that credit to come back, stop waiting. In 2026 the savings come from other places: a new Los Angeles County broadband network in East and South LA, a California LifeLine home broadband pilot, the long-running federal Lifeline discount, and low-income plans offered by internet providers themselves.
This guide ranks those options by how much they can save and who can get them, then shows how to stack them.
Your Options, Ranked by Monthly Price
Option | Typical cost or discount | Who can get it | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
WeLink Community Broadband Network (LA County partner) | $25/mo for 500 Mbps for qualifying households | Residents in the county's East and South LA service areas | WeLink.com/LACounty, (844) 285-9434 |
Spectrum Internet Assist | $25/mo, or $15/mo for NSLP, CEP or SSI households | Qualifying Spectrum-area households | Spectrum's online application |
California LifeLine Home Broadband Pilot | Up to $20/mo off standalone broadband, $30/mo off bundled broadband and voice | California LifeLine-eligible households, through participating providers | California LifeLine provider search |
Access from AT&T | Low-cost pricing that varies by address | Households under 200% of the federal poverty guideline or in a qualifying program | AT&T's Access application |
Federal Lifeline | Up to $9.25/mo off phone, internet or bundled service | Income at or below 135% of poverty, or SNAP, Medicaid, SSI and other programs | National Verifier, 1-800-234-9473 |
Option 1: LA County's Community Broadband Network (WeLink)
On August 6, 2026, the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department and WeLink Communications announced that the county's first Community Broadband Networks are nearing completion. Service is becoming available in parts of East and South Los Angeles.
What it costs
According to the county, WeLink's low-cost plan starts at $25 a month for qualifying households, and market-rate plans start at $65. The county's affordable internet page, Delete the Divide, lists the full lineup:
Qualifying low-income households: $25/mo (500 Mbps), $35/mo (1 Gbps), $45/mo (2 Gbps)
Standard plans, no qualification needed: $65/mo (500 Mbps), $75/mo (1 Gbps), $85/mo (2 Gbps)
The county says every plan includes fixed pricing with no promotional rates through at least September 2027, unlimited data, the needed equipment, no credit checks or cash deposits, and multilingual support.
Where it is available
The county lists all or parts of these communities:
District 1: East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, Montecito Heights, El Sereno
District 2: Adams-Normandie, University Park, Historic South-Central, Exposition Park, Vermont Square, South Park, Central-Alameda, Chesterfield Square, Harvard Park, Vermont-Slauson, Florence, Florence-Firestone, Manchester Square, Vermont Knolls, Gramercy Park, Westmont, Vermont Vista, Broadway-Manchester, Green Meadows, Watts, Athens, Willowbrook, West Rancho Dominguez
District 4: Walnut Park
Delete the Divide says service is available now in some areas and that all areas within the service zone are expected to have access by the end of 2026. Check your exact address on the county's Community Broadband Networks site before signing up.
If you are still waiting for the ACP credit to come back, stop waiting. In 2026 the savings come from other places.
How to sign up
Contact WeLink at WeLink.com/LACounty or (844) 285-9434. The county's pages do not publish the exact qualification rules for the $25 tier, so ask WeLink which programs or income levels qualify and which documents it wants.
Option 2: California LifeLine's New Home Broadband Discount
California LifeLine has long discounted phone service. According to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Decision 25-08-050 adds a home broadband pilot worth up to $20 a month for standalone broadband or up to $30 a month for broadband bundled with voice. California's Broadband for All office says the pilot launched in January 2026 and that more than a dozen providers are enrolling customers, with others working to join.
How to apply
Use the California LifeLine "Provider Search" to find a participating provider for your ZIP code.
Call that provider and ask for the California LifeLine discount; the CPUC says this starts the application.
Only one discount per household is allowed (with exceptions for teletypewriter users and Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program participants).
If you are denied
The CPUC says that for help resolving application denials (appeals) you can contact its Consumer Affairs Branch. The California LifeLine Administrator handles application and renewal questions, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific, Monday through Friday.
Note from the county's Delete the Divide page: WeLink is not currently a participating California LifeLine provider, so you cannot stack the two on a WeLink plan at this time.
Option 3: Low-Cost Plans From Internet Providers
These plans come directly from the companies. Prices and rules are set by each provider and can change.
Spectrum Internet Assist
Spectrum says qualified households may get Spectrum Internet Assist with 50 Mbps service for $25 a month, and that new and existing Internet Assist customers can pay $15 a month if they receive one of three programs:
the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Spectrum also says seniors 65+ who receive SSI are eligible. There are no data caps and no contracts. Apply with Spectrum's online form and have proof of your program participation ready.
Access from AT&T
AT&T says you may be eligible if someone in your household participates in a qualifying program or your household income is below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. Qualifying programs it lists include SNAP, SSI, NSLP, LIHEAP, TANF and Federal Public Housing Assistance. Price and speed depend on what is available at your address. If AT&T cannot verify your income automatically, it may ask for your most recent W-2 or Social Security benefit statement (SSA-1099). For program-based eligibility, it accepts documents such as a benefits letter, a state portal screenshot showing current SNAP enrollment, or, for SSI, a COLA letter or a bank statement showing the deposit.
Option 4: Federal Lifeline
The FCC's Lifeline program gives up to $9.25 a month off qualifying phone, internet or bundled service. You qualify with household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if you participate in SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, Veterans Pension or certain Tribal programs.
Key rules from the FCC:
One Lifeline benefit per household.
Apply online through the National Verifier, by mail, or through a participating provider. For help or a paper form, call 1-800-234-9473.
Documents must be dated within the past 12 months.
Recertify every year or you will be de-enrolled.
If your provider does not charge you a monthly fee, you must use the service at least once every 30 days.
Survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking may qualify for emergency Lifeline support for up to six months under the Safe Connections Act.
Before you call
☐ Your exact address or ZIP code for the WeLink map and provider searches.
☐ A benefits letter or a state portal screenshot showing current SNAP enrollment.
☐ For SSI, a COLA letter or a bank statement showing the deposit.
☐ Your most recent W-2 or SSA-1099 if income has to be verified.
☐ Documents dated within the past 12 months.
How to Choose and Stack
Check the county map first. If WeLink serves your address, its $25 qualifying plan with 500 Mbps and fixed pricing is hard to beat.
If you are on SSI or have a child in school meals, compare Spectrum's $15 tier.
Ask any provider you choose whether it participates in California LifeLine's broadband pilot or federal Lifeline, and whether either discount can be applied to its low-income plan.
Keep copies of your benefit letters; nearly every program asks for proof dated within the past year.
If You Are Turned Down
Not in WeLink's area: the county points to Broadband for All's ZIP code search for low-cost offers and device programs.
Income not verified: upload a W-2, SSA-1099, or benefit letter as the provider requests.
California LifeLine denial: contact the CPUC Consumer Affairs Branch to appeal.
Federal Lifeline "duplicate" flag: only one per household is allowed. Choose one service and de-enroll from others.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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More help in Los Angeles
Related guides
Official sources
This guide gives general information. Provider prices and program rules change; confirm with the official sources above before signing up.
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