American Recovery Act funds Emergency Broadband for households in need

The FCC is launching the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program to help all Americans get online. EBB is part of the American Recovery Act and is designed to help people on the wrong side of the digital divide.

Acting FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said, “Broadband is no longer just ‘nice to have.’ It’s a ‘need to have,’ for everyone, everywhere.”

How does EBB work?

EBB provides a discount of up to $50 a month for high-speed internet service households that qualify and up to $75 a month for households on Native American tribal lands.

The program ends six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares the end of federal emergency surrounding the coronavirus pandemic or once the fund is depleted—whichever comes first. Internet service providers are required to notify participants about the last date the discount or partial discount is available, when the federal money is depleted. Internet service providers are also required to help customers transition to another program.

EBB also allows eligible households to receive a onetime discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop or desktop computer from participating internet service providers if the consumer contributes $10 to $50 toward the device purchase price.

Who qualifies for EBB?

Eligible households receiving:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
• Having an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (see table to the right)
• Substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020, due to layoff or furlough
• Applying for or receiving unemployment benefits
• One household member received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year
• One household member receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019 – 2020 school year
• One household member meets the eligibility requirements for an internet service provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program

The EBB program will also offer a one-time discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a computer or tablet for those who are eligible, as long as consumers contribute between $10 to $50 toward the purchase price of the device.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that 14 million Americans — and 22 percent of those 65 and older — don’t have access to a high-speed internet connection. Other estimates suggest that as many as 22 million older adults are on the wrong side of the “digital divide.”

Source: Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services