Julia Anderson
Have you heard the good news? The Federal Communications Commission wants to make it cheaper for you to get online so you can work from home, use telemedicine, and help your kids with their online learning. How will they do this? Through the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which was just revealed.
What is the Emergency Broadband Benefit’s primary purpose?
Since the coronavirus appeared, many families have been devastated financially. As people lost their jobs and saw their income drop substantially, it became harder to pay bills. And one bill that’s no longer a luxury but a necessity is the Internet bill.
Since Internet service can be seen as critical for work, telemedicine, safe online shopping, and virtual learning, the FCC decided it was time to make it more accessible and affordable for everyone. To reach this goal, they created the Emergency Broadband Benefit to help struggling households get online.
How does the Emergency Broadband Benefit make Internet more affordable?
If you’re eligible for this new benefit, the FCC will give you $50 towards your monthly Internet bill. If you live on Tribal lands, the monthly benefit is $75. Either discount makes it much easier to pay your Internet bill, so you don’t have to worry about staying connected, even if the coronavirus has negatively impacted your income.
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Does the Emergency Broadband Benefit offer anything else?
Yes, it does. Beyond that monthly $50 or $75, eligible households can enjoy a one-time $100 discount. You can use it to buy a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer from a participating provider as long as you pay $10-50 out of your own pocket.
So, not only do you get a cheaper monthly Internet bill, but the Emergency Broadband Benefit can also help you buy a device to surf the Web. It’s worth noting that each household is restricted to one monthly discount and one $100 discount.
How do you qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit?
There are several ways to participate in this new FCC program, all of which show a financial need for at least one person in the household.
If you saw a major decrease in your income since February 29 of last year, you can qualify as long as you’re a single filer with less than $99,000 in income or a joint filer with less than $198,000 in income.
If you’re eligible for the FCC’s Lifeline program, you can qualify. The same holds true if you meet the requirements for a participating provider’s program for COVID-19 or low-income families.
Do you have a child that received free and reduced lunches or breakfast either in 2019-2020 or this school year? You can qualify that way. You can also be eligible if you received a Pell Grant during the current award year.
When will the Emergency Broadband Benefit begin?
That is still to be decided, although the FCC plans to make it live soon. Keep your eye on news regarding the benefit so you can apply as soon as it becomes available.
