More than 2.3 million households have enrolled in the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC acting chairwoman, announced today.
More than 800 telecom providers are participating in the program that allows households in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and American Samoa to receive a discount on their monthly internet bills through a participating EBB provider.
The program provides a discount of up to $50 per month for broadband services for eligible consumers. Those on qualifying Tribal lands can receive enhanced support of up to $75 per month.
The program also provides a one-time device discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider and requires a consumer co-payment of more than $10 and less than $50.
Households can qualify for the program via existing assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline or if a child received reduced-price school meals in the last two school years. Households that are eligible for a broadband provider’s existing COVID relief program, have received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year, or suffered a significant loss in income due to job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020, can also qualify.
In its announcement, the FCC added that there is a new dashboard to track the progress of the EBB program, with information including nationwide and state-specific enrollment figures, the amount of program funds disbursed (once participating providers start to file claims) and other details.
“I am thrilled to see that the great need for affordable broadband support is being met with over 2 million households enrolled in three short weeks,” Rosenworcel said in a prepared statement about the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit program milestone. “I’ve also said we need good data to know how the program is progressing and to inform any long-term efforts to address broadband affordability. This information is now available to the public as we always intended.”
