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FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

Posted on: May 7, 2021
Emergency Broadband Benefit

Emergency Broadband Benefit

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is now offering the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which will help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and more. 

The Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. 

A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below: 

  • Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;

  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;

  • Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or

  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Eligible households will be able to enroll in the program May 12, 2021, and after.

To learn more about the Emergency Broadband Benefit and how to enroll, click here