Last updated: July 2026
Lifeline home internet in California.
If you qualify for Lifeline in California, the federal $9.25/month discount plus California LifeLine's $19.00/mo supplement can apply to home internet. Here are the carriers serving California and their low-income pricing.
How Lifeline internet works in California.
Federal Lifeline provides $9.25/month toward phone OR internet service. In California, the state's California LifeLine program adds up to $19.00/mo more — combined benefit of up to $28.25/mo toward your internet bill. You can apply this benefit toward any participating internet provider — or stack it with an ISP-specific low-income plan (Xfinity Internet Essentials, AT&T Access, Spectrum Internet Assist, Cox ConnectAssist, Verizon Forward) for the lowest monthly cost.
For the complete carrier-by-carrier comparison, see our national Lifeline internet guide.
California-only pilot
California LifeLine Home Broadband Pilot
California launched a voluntary three-year Home Broadband Pilot on January 26, 2026. It is separate from standard Lifeline phone service and is designed to reduce home internet costs for eligible households.
$20
Up to this amount for standalone fixed broadband
$30
Up to this amount for fixed broadband plus voice
100/20 Mbps
Minimum service standard
1280 GB
Data cap for eligible plans
Carriers available in California.
$10-30/mo
AT&T Access
Up to 100 Mbps · 21 states in AT&T's footprint; check availability by ZIP at att.com/access
Qualifies: SNAP, SSI, Veterans Pension, or income ≤200% FPG
$14.95-29.95/mo
Xfinity Internet Essentials
75-100 Mbps (depending on plan) · 39 states plus DC — everywhere Comcast provides residential service
Qualifies: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Section 8, WIC, NSLP, or any federal assistance program
$25/mo
Spectrum Internet Assist
50 Mbps down · 41 states in Spectrum's footprint
Qualifies: NSLP / CEP school lunch, or SSI recipient age 65+
$30/mo
Cox ConnectAssist
100 Mbps down · 18 states — Cox residential service footprint
Qualifies: SNAP, SSI, WIC, TANF, Section 8, Veterans Pension, or Pell Grant
From $20/mo
Verizon Forward
300 Mbps (Fios) or 85-300 Mbps (5G Home) · Northeast + Mid-Atlantic (Fios); nationwide on 5G Home / LTE Home
Qualifies: Lifeline enrollment, WIC, or a recent federal Pell Grant
$40/mo net (after Lifeline)
T-Mobile Home Internet Lifeline
72-245 Mbps (5G Home) · Expanding 5G coverage; check availability at t-mobile.com
Qualifies: Federal Lifeline eligibility (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Section 8, Veterans Pension, WIC, Tribal, or income ≤135% FPG)
$15/mo
Optimum Advantage Internet
Up to 100 Mbps down · NY–NJ–CT tri-state area plus former Suddenlink markets in ~20 states
Qualifies: SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, SSI (65+), NSLP, FPHA, Pell Grant, VA benefits, Lifeline, or income ≤200% FPG
Standard plan minus up to $9.25/mo
Frontier Lifeline
Varies by address (DSL to fiber) · Available only in Frontier's wireline service territories; the discount and qualifying plans vary by state.
Qualifies: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing, Veterans Pension, or income at/below 135% FPG
Availability depends on whether each carrier serves your specific address in California. Check each carrier's ZIP lookup tool to confirm.