Thousands of South Bend residents to lose monthly internet discount. The city can help.

SOUTH BEND — More than 12,000 South Bend households stand to lose a monthly discount on their home internet service as a federal program runs out of money.

When Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021, it made $14.2 billion available for the Affordable Connectivity Program. The initiative provided a monthly discount up to $30 on home internet service to about 12,100 low-income households in South Bend and more than 23 million nationwide, according to a city spokeswoman.

But April is the last month residents will get a full discount, as long as Congress decides not to allot more money to the program.

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The government requires internet providers to send participating households three separate notices of the program's ending. The final notice must be sent this month, and users can cancel or change their monthly plans without paying any fees.

Patrick McGuire, South Bend's technology equity manager, stresses that if participating residents don't take any action, their monthly bill will increase by up to $30.

But a team of city "navigators," funded by a roughly $493,000 federal grant, will help customers with the transition. They can be reached by calling or texting 574-318-9018 or by emailing acp@southbendin.gov. Spanish speakers can talk to a bilingual navigator at 574-406-4718. Read up on what you can do as the program ends at southbendin.gov/acp.

The city provides free internet to residents at about 150 locations, clustered near public parks and busy business corridors, through South Bend Open Wi-Fi. All nine branches of the St. Joseph County Public Library also offer free internet.

A pandemic-era program called Citywide Classroom offers mobile hotspots and wireless LTE routers at no cost to households with children who receive free and reduced benefits in the South Bend Community School Corp. and the School City of Mishawaka.

McGuire said the Affordable Connectivity Program proved to be crucial in South Bend, where roughly 30% of residents lack in-home access to broadband, or high-speed, internet. Without at-home internet, McGuire said, older folks may struggle to manage medical appointments or stay in touch with loved ones. Adults may have to forgo remote work opportunities while kids find ways to follow along with e-learning or skip it altogether.

"We want to make sure that, even if residents don't have access in their home, they're able to access reliable, high-speed, free internet in public locations," McGuire said.

Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: What to know as federal discount on home internet plan ends this month