Program to Help Lower-Income Connecticut Residents Afford Internet

Despite living in a state with expansive high-speed internet, many Connecticut residents simply can’t afford to pay for the service.

“People — particularly those that are elderly and on a low income — are being stretched more than ever,” says John Erlingheuser, senior director of advocacy at AARP Connecticut.

That’s where the Net Equity Program comes in. The program will go into effect by Sept. 30, 2026, and give lower-income residents more affordable high-speed internet.

Passed in 2025 by the Connecticut General Assembly, the program is being developed and administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It requires broadband internet providers to offer high-speed internet service to eligible households — those that qualify for Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — for no more than $40 per month, including taxes and fees.

Erlingheuser says the program will help older residents combat social isolation, access virtual medical appointments and work with companies that only do business online.

State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) pushed for it, comparing internet access to electricity. “It should not be something that is only reserved for people of a certain income. Everybody should have access to the internet,” Duff says.

Proponents say the program can be a model for other states — especially since funding for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program ended in 2024.

“It’s left now to the states,” Erlingheuser says.

“We’re encouraging other states to pick up the mantle and follow our lead on this because ... in this day and age, you’re unable to function without internet service,” adds Erlingheuser.