Credit Tmthetom, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
A new temporary federal program is offering funds to offset internet costs for certain low-income households struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applications for the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program launched Wednesday.
Qualifying low-income households can get a discount of up to $50 a month on broadband bills and related equipment rentals. They can also get a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, tablet or desktop computer.
A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below, per the FCC:
Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid or Lifeline;
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/12/2021 - 1:44pm
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rolled out the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Wednesday. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to 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 so much more.
Charter Communications, a supplier of internet services to South Lake Tahoe residents and millions of others in the 41 states it operates in, announced its participation in the program.
Beginning today, households meeting the income thresholds are eligible for a credit up to $50 per month (up to $75 for households on Tribal Lands) toward qualifying plans for the duration of the program.
On May 10, 2021, the FCC unanimously adopted final rules in a Report and Order to implement the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (“ECF Program”). The ECF Program is a.
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You may be eligible for a $50 monthly coronavirus pandemic discount on your home broadband bill starting Wednesday.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program was included as part of the roughly $900 billion COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress in December 2020 and signed by President Donald Trump. It set aside $3.2 billion for the Federal Communications Commission to cover the program.
Internet connectivity has been vital during the coronavirus pandemic as more Americans worked from home and more students attended school at home. We all know that Internet access is essential for modern life, FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday. This pandemic has made it abundantly clear that broadband is no longer nice to have, it’s need-to-have, for everyone, everywhere.
Atlantic Broadband to Provide Discount Broadband via FCC’s Benefit Program
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Atlantic Broadband
QUINCY, MA Atlantic Broadband, the eighth-largest cable operator in the U.S., will provide broadband connectivity at discounted prices for financially struggling households through the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
Under the program starting today, Atlantic Broadband 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) so that they can be connected for distance learning, work from home, telehealth and other critical online destinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.