by Wire reports May 12, 2021 .
Americans can begin applying for $50 off their monthly internet bill on Wednesday as part of an emergency government program to keep people connected during the pandemic.
The $3.2 billion program is part of the $900 billion December pandemic-relief package. The government is increasing spending on broadband as the pandemic made stark that millions of Americans did not have access to, and could not afford, broadband at a time when jobs, school and health care was moving online.
It’s unclear how long the money will last but it’s expected to be several months. Tens of millions of people are eligible, although the Federal Communications Commission, which is administering the program, did not specify a number.
Mediacom Communications this week announced its participation in the federal governmentâs Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP), designed to help families and individuals struggling to afford Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EBBP is a temporary program being administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It provides eligible new or current customers with up to $50 off their monthly internet service bill. Program eligibility is defined by the FCC.
âMediacomâs participation in the FCCâs Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is one more way we ensure that reliable broadband is available to families and individuals who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,â said Mediacom Senior Vice President Ed Pardini. âIn all Mediacom service areas, our team will encourage eligible individuals and families to use this temporary benefit to stay connected to loved ones, and to access online education, healthcare and empl
The Federal Communications Commission said 825 broadband providers have agreed to offer the discounts. The program also allows for a one-time laptop subsidy of $100.
Senior news
By Wende Kluener - For PCCOA
PREBLE COUNTY We are currently living in unprecedented times, and this provides ample opportunity for scammers to come up with new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting people. These scams are often targeted at the elderly, and it is essential that we are aware of the types of scams these individuals will try. Right now, there are two major scams that are happening: contact tracing scams and COVID-19 testing scams.
Contact tracing is the process of identifying and contacting people who have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracers will work with someone who is positive to collect the names and numbers of anyone they have been in
Northwestern University announced Wednesday that students will be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine next academic year. In a letter to the school community, administrators wrote the decision was made as confidence in the vaccine’s effectiveness has increased and the supply has grown to meet the demand in Illinois. Meanwhile, U.S. health advisers endorsed use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in .