Looking for Backup Internet? 5 Things Every State Farm Agent Should Know About 5G Failover

By Dylan Banks

Managed internet for an insurance agency is a specialized networking service where a third-party provider handles the installation, security, and maintenance of your office's connection. It ensures your agency remains online by using redundant hardware and secondary connections, such as 5G cellular failover, to prevent any disruption to your sales and service operations.

As a State Farm agent transitioning to your own internet, you are moving from a corporate-managed "black box" to the role of an independent IT manager. This shift brings freedom, but it also brings responsibility. State Farm’s official guidance for this transition (as of June 2026) is clear: agents should actively consider a backup internet connection and a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for their offices.

At Agent Choice Internet (ACI), we don’t just agree with that guidance, we built our entire platform to satisfy it. We handle the research, the hardware, and the monitoring so you can focus on writing business.

Why does State Farm recommend backup internet?

State Farm identifies backup internet as a critical component of agency continuity because your systems, phones, and quoting tools now depend entirely on your local office network. Without a secondary connection, a simple fiber cut or a local ISP outage can paralyze your entire team.

1. The Reality of the $200 Stipend

State Farm provides a $200 monthly stipend to the primary agent of each office to help offset the cost of your transition. However, it is vital to understand the mechanics of this payment. The stipend begins only after State Farm removes its corporate equipment from your office, not the day you sign your new ISP contract.

Furthermore, State Farm has noted that the duration of this stipend is still being evaluated. It is not a permanent, lifetime guarantee. Our managed internet pricing is designed with this in mind, offering plans from $109/mo that fit comfortably within that $200 budget. This ensures that even if the stipend changes in the future, your overhead remains manageable.

2. 5G Failover: Your Digital Safety Net

What happens when your primary fiber or cable line goes down? If you are running a standard residential-grade connection, your office goes dark. 5G failover is a technology that automatically switches your office network to a high-speed cellular connection the moment your main line fails.

This transition is seamless. Your team won't even realize the primary internet is down. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), business continuity plans must include redundant communications to avoid operational paralysis during a local infrastructure failure. Our commercial-grade hardware includes an integrated 5G radio that stands ready 24/7.

Does a UPS actually protect my sales?

Yes, a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) keeps your critical networking gear running during brief power flickers or outages, preventing your systems from rebooting and dropping active calls. It bridges the gap between a power failure and your backup systems taking over.

3. Protecting the Modern "Phone" System

Under the new transition rules, you must be enrolled in State Farm Agent Voice Services (AVS). Most agents already are, but the way you use those phones is changing. Initially, your desk phones will not work over the new connection. You will rely on softphones like Jabber until the Zoom Phone rollout reaches your office.

Because these phones run through your network, not a traditional phone line, any loss of power to your router means you lose the ability to speak with customers. A UPS ensures that even if the lights go out, your router and 5G failover unit stay powered. This allows your team to continue using their laptops or mobile devices to handle claims and quotes without a second of downtime. You can see coverage by state to find the best options for your specific region.

4. Printer and Hardware Compatibility

Transitioning your internet isn't just about the "pipe" coming into the wall; it’s about everything connected to it. State Farm guidance specifies that only certain LAN/shared printers are compatible with the new environment, specifically the HP 5700 and M507X models.

Older models like the M555X or 506X will not work on the shared network. While ACI provides the robust office network solutions needed to support these devices, State Farm remains responsible for the hardware replacement of the printers themselves. Our role is to ensure that the moment that printer is plugged in, it has a secure, stable, and managed path to the cloud.

How does ACI make this transition "hands-off"?

We provide a white-glove, end-to-end service that includes researching ISPs, installing commercial-grade UniFi hardware, and providing 24/7 remote monitoring for a transparent monthly fee. You don't have to be an IT expert because we handle every technical detail for you.

5. The Peace of Mind of Professional Management

Many agents attempt to "DIY" their internet by going to a local big-box store and buying consumer-grade routers. This creates a hidden IT burden. When the internet goes down, you become the support tech. You spend hours on hold with the ISP instead of coaching your team or meeting with high-value clients.

ACI removes this burden entirely. We lease and maintain all the equipment. If there is a firmware update or a security patch, we push it remotely. If your primary ISP goes down, we know before you do because our monitoring alerts us the second your 5G failover kicks in. This is how our managed internet works: we manage the technology so it "disappears" into the background of your daily operations.

Get Started with Confidence

The transition away from corporate-managed internet is a significant milestone for your agency. It is an opportunity to build a faster, more reliable, and more secure infrastructure that supports modern tools like Zoom Phone and high-def video conferencing.

By following State Farm’s guidance and implementing a 5G failover with a professional UPS, you are not just checking a compliance box, you are protecting your revenue. Get started today and let us take the "IT" out of your daily to-do list.

Do I need to buy my own 5G backup plan?
No. Agent Choice Internet provides the 5G cellular failover hardware and the data plan as part of our fully managed service. You don’t need to manage a separate bill or carrier relationship.

Will my current State Farm desk phone work immediately?
No. Per State Farm guidance, hard phones will not work initially over the new connection. Your team will use softphones (like Jabber) until the Zoom Phone rollout is complete in your office.

Is the $200 stipend permanent?
State Farm has stated that the duration of the stipend is still being evaluated. It is not currently described as a permanent or lifetime payment, which is why we offer plans starting from $109/mo to ensure long-term affordability.

Can I keep my existing office printer?
Only specific models like the HP 5700 and M507X are compatible with the LAN/shared network transition. Other models like the M555X or 556DN are not supported for shared use, though USB printers may work for single workstations.

Does ACI provide the UPS battery backup?
Yes. We include a battery backup (UPS) as part of our managed hardware stack to ensure your network gear stays online during power fluctuations, meeting State Farm’s official recommendations.