Viya Bridges Digital Divide:

Viya, the leading telecommunications provider in the US Virgin Islands, remains committed to providing affordable internet to customers in the USVI. Residents who receive government assistance from other programs can qualify for $30 off any Viya unlimited internet plan available or free mobile with internet.

The United States Congress created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a long-term benefit that became effective March 1, 2022. This federal broadband affordability initiative helps ensure that residents can afford the connectivity needed for commerce, education, health care and entertainment for years to come and Viya is actively promoting this important program.

Viya launched the Affordable Connectivity Program with three offers for individuals that qualify for free service or the $30 monthly credit for one service per household. Eligible customers may choose from one of the following:

• $30 credit on any Viya home unlimited high-speed Internet plan
• Free Mobile plan with unlimited local talk, text, and data plus a free Samsung mobile phone
• Free MiFi Internet 30Gb Internet-On-The-GO plus a free MiFi device

Vice President of Public Relations and Governmental Affairs Jennifer Matarangas-King, noted, “Viya launched an aggressive Affordable Connectivity Campaign direct to the community at strategic sites to ensure that everyone is aware of this low-income assistance program that is critical to ensure that our community stays connected.”

Matarangas-King continued, “We are very grateful for the partnership with the VI Housing Authority for allowing us to visit the communities on a weekly basis. Because of our weekly initiatives that began four weeks ago, hundreds of new eligible households now have free or discounted connectivity. We are committed to the Virgin Islands staying connected to our friends, family and the world.”

Households can qualify for the ACP by showing that at least one member of their household meets one of the following criteria:

• Participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Participates in the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• Receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Receives Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Receives Medicaid
• Participates in the FCC’s Lifeline Program. Lifeline is the Federal Communication Commission’s program to help make communications more affordable for low-income consumers.
• Receives Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
• Household income is at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines

The certification for the ACP is simple. Customers can prequalify by visiting https://acpbenefit.org/. After they receive an approval number, customers may visit Viya’s Customer Experience Center to complete the process and activate their service or apply their credit to existing service.

Matarangas-King noted that the public-private collaboration for the ACP continues with the VI Department of Human Services. “The Department of Human Services is uniquely positioned to accelerate and expand enrollment by providing “vouchers” to eligible households, as part of their ordinary engagement in assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Medicaid. By mailing the vouchers directly to eligible households, Department of Human Services will aid recipients by informing them that they are pre-qualified to receive this benefit. The recipient merely needs to contact their preferred service provider to enroll, and the service provider will process the customer into the Affordable Connectivity Program. We 4 look forward to the vouchers being mailed soon especially since the ACP is one of the services being featured during Older Americans Month.”

Matarangas-King concluded, “I encourage anyone who participates in the previously mentioned federally- funded government assistance programs to inquire about free mobile options or a $30 credit off of existing internet plans.”

Matarangas-King concluded, “I encourage anyone who participates in the previously mentioned federally- funded government assistance programs to inquire about free mobile options or a $30 credit off of existing internet plans.”

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About Viya: Viya is the largest telecommunications provider located in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), providing a full suite of telecommunications and entertainment services. Our family of services for both the business and residential markets include wireline and wireless voice service, fixed and mobile broadband plus cable television service offered over a hybrid fiber-coaxial wireline network and a state-of-the-art 4G LTE wireless network serving St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.