CA Lifeline Home Broadband Pilot Program

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Overview

Survey data gathered to inform the State Digital Equity Plan found that affordability, or cost of home internet service, is the main barrier to home broadband adoption. Almost two-thirds (61%) of respondents without home broadband report cost as one of the reasons for not having the service.

The California LifeLine Home Broadband Pilot is a state program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission that helps low‑income households lower the cost of home internet service through participating internet service providers. The California Lifeline Home Broadband Pilot Program offers these benefits to eligible households:

  • $20/month discount for broadband only services, or
  • $30/month if they bundle broadband + voice service from the same provider.  
  • Reimbursement up to $39 per year per household for one time connection or activation fees.

Eligibility

You may qualify for California LifeLine if your total annual household income is at or below the California LifeLine income limits (refer to the table below) OR if you or another member in your household is enrolled in one of the qualifying public assistance programs listed below.

You may qualify for California LifeLine if your income is at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines:

Household SizeAnnual Income Limits
1$24,600
2$33,300
3$42,100
4$50,800
Each Additional Member$8,700

Effective June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027

Documentation is required to show your household’s total annual income meets the annual income limits if you are qualifying by Income-Based. A household’s total annual gross income consists of money received BEFORE TAXES by everyone in your household (adults and children), from whatever source derived, whether taxable or non-taxable, including, but not limited to: wages, salaries, interest, dividends, alimony and child support, grants, gifts, allowances, stipends, lottery winnings, inheritances, worker’s compensation, unemployment and public assistance benefits, social security payments, pensions, rental income, income from self-employment, and cash payments from other sources, and all employment, and cash payments from other sources, and all employment-related, non-cash income.

You can qualify for California LifeLine if you or another person in your household is enrolled in any one of these qualifying public assistance programs:

  • Medicaid/Medi-Cal
  • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
  • CalFresh, Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
  • National School Lunch Program (NSL)
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
    • California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
    • Stanislaus County Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWORKs)
    • Welfare-to-Work (WTW)
    • Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)
  • Tribal TANF
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
  • Federal Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Program

Existing Lifeline Subscribers

Only one benefit is permitted per household; the Broadband Pilot Program benefit cannot be combined with an existing California LifeLine benefit. To switch to the Broadband Pilot, contact your service provider to request a transfer of your California LifeLine benefit to the Broadband Pilot.

If your provider is not offering the Broadband Pilot, visit Provider Search – California LifeLine, and enter your ZIP Code to find available providers.

Apply here