There are other eligibility requirements, too see https://getemergencybroadband.org to find out if you qualify.
You can get the discount even if you owe your phone or cable company money. That s important because some people have been barred from low-cost plans offered by internet service providers when they owed their service provider money. More than 800 cellphone and home-internet companies are participating, including AT&T, Charter, Comcast, T-Mobile and Verizon.
People in tribal areas are eligible for up to $75 off their bill. There is also a $100 reimbursement for desktop computers, laptops or tablets in that case, you must pay between $10 and $50 of the cost of the device yourself and buy it through your broadband provider. An analysis of internet bills by the Wall Street Journal found that the average bill for stand-alone broadband service was about $66 a month.
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.
WASHINGTON (AP) 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.
Federal program offers $50 a month off internet bill, how to see if you’re eligible
Updated May 12, 2021;
Posted May 12, 2021
A student uses a laptop computer to in this MLive-The Flint Journal file photo from 2012.The Flint Journal
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Millions of Americans can now apply for federal assistance to help pay their monthly internet bill as part of a $3.2 billion pandemic relief program, according to the Associated Press. The Emergency Broadband Benefit was part of the $900 billion pandemic relief package passed in December which included money for expansion of broadband service and assistance in keeping families connected to the internet.