Phone and internet on a budget
Where to get online for free, how New York State law lets you pay $15 or $20 a month for home internet, and how to get a phone discount through Lifeline.
Start here
- LinkNYC street kiosks give free Wi-Fi, calls within the U.S. and charging. Every New York Public Library (NYPL) branch has Wi-Fi and computers.
- If someone in your household gets SNAP (grocery benefit), Medicaid (health insurance) or free or reduced-price school lunch, home internet costs $15 or $20 a month.
- Lifeline, a federal program, lowers your phone or internet bill by up to $9.25 a month.
Until you have internet at home, you can get online, charge your phone or make a call here.
LinkNYC
Free
Street kiosks with free Wi-Fi (the LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi network, sign in with an email address), free calls within the U.S., phone charging and a 911 button. The website maps the nearest kiosks.
Libraries: Wi-Fi and computers
Free
Every New York Public Library (NYPL) branch has free Wi-Fi during open hours (network NYPL, no password) and computers.
The LGBTQ+ Center
Free
The LGBTQ+ center in the West Village: free Wi-Fi up to 8 hours a day, a computer up to 2 hours, printing up to 10 pages, phone charging.
The New York State Affordable Broadband Act requires internet service providers (ISPs) to offer low-cost plans to low-income households. Some smaller ISPs are exempt; mobile and dial-up service are not covered.
Check whether your household qualifies
A household qualifies if someone takes part in one of these programs: free or reduced-price school lunch (National School Lunch Program), SNAP, Medicaid, the senior citizen or disability rent increase exemption, or a utility affordability benefit.
Find which providers serve your address
Open the map at mapmybroadband.dps.ny.gov, enter your address or ZIP code, click a provider with an asterisk next to its name and follow the link to its low-cost plan.
Ask for the low-cost plan by name
The provider must offer either a plan of no more than $15 a month at 25 Mbps or faster, or a $20 plan at 200 Mbps or faster. It doesn't have to offer both.
Do not pay extras
On this plan the provider can't require bundles, extra fees or taxes. It must advertise the plan, explain how to enroll and treat these customers like everyone else.
If it doesn't work
Check your eligibility on AccessNYC, the City's benefits website: access.nyc.gov.
Three ways to save on internet and phone
| Affordable Broadband Act (state) | Spectrum Internet Assist (company) | Lifeline (federal program) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | No more than $15 a month (25 Mbps) or $20 (200 Mbps), no fees or taxes | $25 a month for 50 Mbps; $15 a month for households on school lunch (NSLP or CEP) or SSI (a federal benefit) | A discount of up to $9.25 a month on phone, internet or a bundle |
| What is included | Home internet of any type except mobile and dial-up | Modem included, no data caps or contracts | Phone or internet from a participating company |
| Who qualifies | Households on SNAP, Medicaid, school lunch and other programs | Households on the listed programs (extra criteria in New York State); seniors 65+ on SSI | Households on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI and other programs, or with income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guideline |
| Where to apply | With the provider at your address | Online on Spectrum's site | Online or by mail at lifelinesupport.org |
A federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet. USAC administers it, overseen by the FCC, the federal communications agency.
Check that you qualify
You qualify if you or someone in your household gets Medicaid, SNAP, SSI or federal housing assistance, or if your income is at or below 135% of the 2026 federal poverty guideline. There is a separate basis for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and related crimes.
Apply online or by mail
Apply at lifelinesupport.org or by mail. The application asks for the last four digits of a Social Security number; if you don't have one, write to the Lifeline Support Center first. If you have a disability and need help applying, the center can mail you a paper application.
Choose a company after approval
After approval, contact a participating phone or internet company. The site's "Companies Near Me" tool shows the ones at your address.
If you need help
Lifeline Support Center: email LifelineSupport@usac.org.
Income at or below which you qualify for Lifeline in 2026 (48 states, including New York)
| Yearly income | |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $21,546 |
| 2 people | $29,214 |
| 3 people | $36,882 |
| 4 people | $44,550 |
| 5 people | $52,218 |
| 6 people | $59,886 |
Lifeline: a discount of up to $9.25
Low cost
A participating company gives you up to $9.25 a month off phone, internet or bundled service. It lowers your bill; it doesn't pay all of it.
The proposed change to Lifeline rules
On February 18, 2026 the FCC proposed limiting Lifeline to U.S. citizens and "qualified aliens" (non-citizens with certain statuses, such as green-card holders, asylees and refugees), and only after a five-year wait. Comment periods closed on May 4 and June 2, 2026. On May 28, 2026 the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) concluded that the 1996 welfare law's limits on immigrants apply to Lifeline (reported by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society). That opinion does not by itself change the rules; as of November 2026 the FCC has no final rule. The Congressional Research Service notes that advocates say undocumented people are already ineligible under current rules.
Spectrum Internet Assist
Low cost
Spectrum offers 50 Mbps for $25 a month, or $15 a month for households on school lunch (NSLP or CEP) or SSI. The modem is included; no data caps or contracts. Seniors 65 and older on SSI qualify. New York State residents must meet extra criteria, listed on the program page.
- ISP
- Internet service provider: the company that connects you to the internet.
- Mbps
- Megabits per second: the higher the number, the faster the internet.
- Wi-Fi
- A wireless network that a phone or laptop joins without a cable.
- Lifeline
- A federal program: a discount of up to $9.25 a month on phone or internet for people with low income.
- Affordable Broadband Act
- New York State law: providers must offer low-income households internet for no more than $15 or $20 a month.
- FCC
- Federal Communications Commission: the U.S. federal communications agency, which sets Lifeline rules.
- SNAP
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: money for groceries for people with low income.
- Medicaid
- Government health insurance for people with low income.
- SSI
- Supplemental Security Income: a federal benefit for older, blind and disabled people with low income.
- Affordable Connectivity Program
- A former federal $30 internet discount. It ended on June 1, 2024; anything that still mentions it is out of date.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.