How To Get Affordable Internet From Sparklight

Sparklight has a brand new plan for low-income customers, and it comes with an included Wi-Fi gateway, free standard installation, and no credit check.

The new Lift plan costs $29.95 per month and doesn’t require contracts or autopay. To qualify, you’ll need to prove eligibility for certain state or federal assistance programs, including the following:

• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Veteran’s Administration
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Federal public housing
• Pell Grant

To sign up, you’ll first need a discount code from VerifyPass. ​​Get instructions and a full list of eligible programs on Sparklight’s Lift website.

“Sparklight’s Lift Internet is truly a lifeline,” said Lois Pinson Bragg, a Sparklight customer since 2008. “With prices rising everywhere, it’s a relief to have affordable, reliable internet that keeps me connected to friends, family and essential services. Through programs like this, Sparklight is helping fill the void left by the discontinuation of the Affordable Connectivity Program.”

Bragg’s statement was quoted in a press release sent to HighSpeedInternet.com from Sparklight.

The new plans come almost exactly one year after the expiration of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which had paid the first $30 off internet bills for low-income customers nationwide. At the time, Sparklight encouraged customers to sign up for a plan that cost $39.95 per month for the first year.

That plan is still available, but the price has changed to $35.95 per month. Since then, Sparklight has started offering a standard plan for $29 per month in certain areas, but it requires credit checks and equipment fees.

Read on for more about cheap Sparklight plans, alternatives to Sparklight, and other ways you can get online on a budget.

Cheap internet plans from Sparklight

Sparklight offers plans starting at about $30 per month for the first year to qualifying low-income customers and a variety of plans to everyone else. Speeds, prices, and terms vary based on where you live, and your price could go up after six months or a year.

In addition to the monthly price, you may be charged $14 every month to lease Wi-Fi equipment, or you can buy your own. You may also be charged an installation fee and a deposit.

Read your broadband nutrition label during checkout to get all the details.

No data overage fees or contracts

There’s no contract required with standard Sparklight plans, so there’s no early termination fee to worry about. You’re in the clear on data overage fees, too, but your speeds could be slowed if you exceed a whopping 5TB per month. Rest assured, you almost certainly won’t.

How to get Sparklight internet

No special eligibility rules apply for customers who want Sparklight’s entry-level plans, but you will need to agree to a credit check and pay a deposit plus installation and activation fees.

Visit Sparklight and enter your address to see if you can sign up for Sparlight in your area.

Other plan options from Sparklight

Sparklight offers a range of plans and prices (with different offerings in different areas). Entry-level plans are good enough for many households, but if you have a busy home with several connected TVs and consoles, you might want more speed.

Take our quick speed-needs quiz to get an idea of the bandwidth your home needs. Below is a list of Sparklight plans that may be suitable.

Other federal subsidies for internet

Unfortunately for Sparklight customers, the company does not participate in the federal Lifeline program, which offers a subsidy for either phone or internet service for folks in need.

If you qualify, though, consider finding a provider who does participate. Get started by entering your zip code into the provider search tool from the Universal Services Administrative Co., which manages the program.

Libraries and local help

Your state or local government may also have benefit programs to help lower-income folks get internet access. If you have access to a search engine, enter the name of your state and “free internet” or “internet assistance” and look for sites with a “.gov” ending.

Your local library is another way to get help accessing the internet. You may be able to check out devices such as a mobile hotspot or laptop. Better yet, the librarians are probably familiar with local aid programs and can help you apply.

Other providers with low-income programs

Sparklight offers cable internet service in 24 states, and competes with different providers in each state. Your exact address will determine which providers are available to you, but the following is a list of some of Sparklight’s biggest competitors that offer affordable internet access.

• AT&T
• T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
• Verizon 5G Home Internet
• Centurylink
• Frontier

If you have a choice between Sparklight and a DSL provider, Sparklight is usually the better choice. If you have the option of fiber internet from any provider (and the budget), go with fiber. If you live in a city or suburban area, 5G home internet may be worth a shot.

Additional resources

We are big believers in fast internet around here, and we think it’s important for everyone to have access (regardless of how much they make or where they live). We’ve put together the following resources to point you in the right direction:

• Government Programs To Make Internet Service More Affordable
• How To Get Free and Low-Cost Internet
• Best Internet Deals
• Best Internet Plans and Discounts for Seniors
• Best Internet Plans and Discounts for Students
• Best Internet for Veterans and Military Families
• Rural Internet Providers
• The End of the ACP