Billions available nationwide for Emergency Broadband Benefit (Source: Pexels.com) By Region 8 Newsdesk | May 11, 2021 at 10:57 AM CDT - Updated May 11 at 10:57 AM
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) - The Arkansas Department of Commerce announced it is working to help build consumer awareness about the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to help lower-income families.
The temporary benefit will help to lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The $3.2 billion EBB program provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households or qualifying Tribal lands.
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Derrick James
May 12, 2021
The Federal Communications Commission explains what the emergency broadband benefit is and who is eligible to receive the benefit and how people living on tribal lands will receive a higher benefit.
1. What is the emergency broadband benefit?Â
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. The benefit will provide $50 per month per eligible household or $75 a month per eligible household within tribal lands. It also will provide a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households.Â
What Is Emergency Broadband Benefit? New Stimulus Discount Can Help Pay For Internet Monthly
KEY POINTS
The program would provide a one-time $100 discount to buy a computer or tablet
Eligible households can enroll in the program from May 12
Eligible low-income families may receive a monthly discount on their internet bills as part of a new stimulus measure that would kick in this week.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit was included as part of the roughly $900 billion COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress in December last year. This program is run by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and under it, the agency will provide monthly internet subsidies for low-income families to ensure access to essential resources amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
An assistance program exists to help qualified individuals who will be or possibly have acquired broadband internet service to their home. The Emergency