CORPORATE, LEGAL, & REGULATORY

ACP – Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to help low-income households pay for internet service. The ACP Program is projected to run out of funding in April 2024 (this date is an estimate and may change). As a result, the FCC has begun taking steps to wind down the ACP Program.

If your household is eligible, you can receive:

  • Up to a $30/month discount on your internet service. Only one monthly service discount is allowed per household. 


For questions about the Affordable Connectivity Program,consumers should visit 
ACPBenefit.org. For general program support, consumers should email ACPSupport@usac.org. Consumers may also call the ACP Support Center at 877-384-2575 for assistance. If you are having issues with your provider involving the or the Affordable Connectivity Program, you may want to file an informal consumer complaint with the FCC. 

Lifeline Assistance

Qualified low-income individuals may be eligible for discounts on traditional phone or broadband Internet service by applying for Lifeline, a federal program.  Learn more about the Lifeline program available to Mid Century customers.  Application and eligibility,  household worksheet.

Digital Divide– Bridge the gap by helping others with a monthly donation

K-12 Bridge to Broadband – Mid Century Communications has joined the K-12 Bridge to Broadband initiative to work with schools to help connect students who don’t have internet access at home.  Mid Century offers internet speeds of up to 1 Gig in most areas served. Contact your school district to find out whether it is participating and whether you qualify. Mid Century’s contact is Missy Towery at 309-778-8526 or missytowery@midcentury.com. Mid Century is taking part in the initiative through the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA). NTCA has partnered with Digital Bridge K-12, an initiative from the national non-profit EducationSuperHighway.

Illinois Relay 711 – Communication link between a TTY phone and voice phone

National Call Quality Issue
Mid Century strives to provide excellent service at all times.  However, people who live in rural areas all around the country are reporting that calls to them are not getting through, or they are getting calls with poor quality.

You may be experiencing any of the following:

  • Someone tells you they tried to call you but the call did not go through or the call rang on their end but not on your end.
  • A call came through to you but the quality was poor.
  • A call came through but the caller ID was incorrect.

The problem starts with the carrier used by the calling party, NOT your local telecommunication provider.  The problem can only be resolved by the carrier of the calling party.

This nationwide epidemic is negatively affecting local businesses, public safety, and our relationship with our customers.  Rural carriers have complained to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and state agencies.  The FCC has created a task force to investigate and address the issue and rural telco advocates are encouraging swift and severe action against all of the providers at the center of the problem.  We are hopeful the large nationwide providers involved in these issues and the FCC act quickly to address these problems.

In the meantime, here is what you can do:

  • Ask the calling party the name of the long-distance carrier they used.
  • Call your local provider and give them the details, including the name of the carrier they used, so they can contact the carrier on your behalf to try to resolve the issue.
  • Go to www.fcc.gov/complaints to file an informal wired telephone service complaint against the carrier used by the calling party (not your local service provider), and encourage the caller to do the same.

Legislative Action
The FCC in its goal to increase broadband availability across the United States is looking to change the funding mechanisms for rural telephone companies. These changes must be implemented in a way that protects the investment that your Cooperative has already made in our existing infrastructure. If these changes are not carefully designed there will be negative consequences for rural communities. In a best case scenario, funding changes would result in an urban/rural divide. In a worst case scenario funding could be constrained in a way that you are left with the most basic telephone and broadband services. We ask for your support to:

  • Request that the FCC adopt funding programs that protect the existing investments that we have made in our infrastructure.
  • Request that the FCC adopt a sustainable funding mechanism on a going forward basis that provides for telephone and internet service that is equal to urban areas.
  • Inform the FCC and Congress of the importance of broadband for rural communities.
  • Inform the FCC and Congress that rural constituents have the same right to telephone and broadband services at comparable rates as urban constituents.

Quality telephone and broadband services are the lifeblood of rural communities. The availability of these services will continue to support jobs and economic development in rural areas. Working together we can make sure that the investments that we have made are protected and that broadband service is equal to the speeds available in urban areas. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Resource for more information:

Save Rural Broadband

Statement of NonDiscrimination

Mid Century Communications is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call
(866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or(3) email:
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.