The FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Has Begun

**The Rover** · 05.16.21, 05:06 AM

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides a temporary $50 subsidy on monthly broadband (internet service) bills for qualifying low-income households. This program is available until funds are exhausted.

Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit

https://www.cnet.com/news/heres-how-...dband-benefit/

**It's Mike** · 05.16.21, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by The Rover

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides a temporary $50 subsidy on monthly broadband (internet service) bills for qualifying low-income households. This program is available until funds are exhausted.

Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit

https://www.cnet.com/news/heres-how-...dband-benefit/

I don't understand this:

"Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price."

so you get a 100 dollar discount on a computer that cost between 110 and 150 dollars only?

**Number 47** · 05.16.21, 08:56 AM

I don't get it either. Plus my wifi service is $22.99 a month.

We must be getting ready to start voting over the internet.

**T.B.** · 05.16.21, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Number 47

I don't get it either. Plus my wifi service is $22.99 a month.

We must be getting ready to start voting over the internet.

My internet service (Spectrum) is around $60 per month. Admittedly, it's probably about as good as you can get for a home with around 500MB download and about 30+MB upload and my phone is bundled with it. Aside from the speed, it's also been extremely reliable - I deal with maybe 2-3 outages a year tops.

**The Rover** · 05.16.21, 01:00 PM

My internet service is $75/month for 200Mbps, so I will be taking them up on this offer!! I've got my own router so I'll save $5/mo.
Their offer is $49.99/mo so my 200Mbps internet will now be free. Which is good for someone living on SS.

**CaboChris** · 05.16.21, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by T.B.

My internet service (Spectrum) is around $60 per month. Admittedly, it's probably about as good as you can get for a home with around 500MB download and about 30+MB upload and my phone is bundled with it. Aside from the speed, it's also been extremely reliable - I deal with maybe 2-3 outages a year tops.

Same

**The Rover** · 07.19.21, 08:02 PM

FCC and ISPs’ ‘match’ process messed up a massive broadband credit for low-income citizens—leaving thousands furious

Nearly every major provider—and dozens of smaller ones—had complaints filed against them to the FCC.

https://www.dailydot.com/debug/fcc-e...ctrum-comcast/

**PrideofPasadena** · 07.20.21, 01:23 AM

It shoulda been free from the get go. Can't believe how much cable has jacked the shit out of it the past twenty years. It'll be a hundred soon.

**The Rover** · 11.29.21, 09:25 AM

https://www.naco.org/blog/fcc-opens-...hed-under-iija

On November 18, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a request for public comment on the implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Enacted under the recently signed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the ACP extends and modifies the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, which Congress previously established to provide financial support for low-income households to acquire and maintain broadband services and certain connective devices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded at $14.2 billion, the ACP also includes broadband consumer protection programs and the establishment of a study on digital discrimination.

The ACP makes a few important modifications to the existing EBB program, which are set to take effect on December 31, 2021, though impacted households will have a 60-day transition period during which their current benefit will remain unchanged. These include:

The maximum monthly benefit changes from $50 per month to $30 per month for households not located on qualifying Tribal lands. The monthly benefit will remain at $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands

Households have new ways to qualify for the ACP, such as receiving Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits or having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

Households that qualified for the Emergency Broadband Benefit due to a substantial loss of income from job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020, or who met the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's COVID-19 program will need to requalify for the ACP

The ACP also directs FCC to publish guidance on the development and display of Broadband Consumer Labels that disclose information about broadband internet access service plans. The ACP additionally includes a digital discrimination clause under, which states that the FCC has two years to issue guidance facilitating and modeling state and local best practices for equitable internet access.

Counties support the permanent establishment of a broadband affordability program, as well as support expanded access to high-speed internet access in underserved and unserved communities. To share more information with your residents with regards to the updated ACP or to submit comments, please click here.

The FCC’s Wireline Protection Bureau is currently conducting a public comment period for the ACP, and the period is open from November 18 to December 8. NACo is reviewing the program and encourages counties to reach out with any questions or concerns.

**The Rover** · 11.29.21, 10:35 PM

FCC to Quickly Launch New Affordable Connectivity Program

Blog Broadband Law Advisor

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

https://www.lexology.com/library/det...1-3ae379f98396

Good Descriptive Article

**The Rover** · 01.24.22, 02:52 PM

https://www.convergedigest.com/2022/...ffordable.html

Sunday, January 23, 2022

The FCC published final rules for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which builds upon the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program), to offer eligible low-income households discounts off the cost of broadband service and connected devices.

The Affordable Connectivity Program reduces the monthly standard benefit from $50 to $30 (up to $75 if on Tribal land). Moreover, the ACP application adjusts the income threshold from 135% to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and adds Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a qualifying program, as required by the Infrastructure Act. Systems were also adjusted to prevent providers with an approved alternative verification process from indicating that households that these providers were enrolling in the Affordable Connectivity Program were qualified based on substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020, or on a provider’s COVID-19 program, which was also eliminated by the Infrastructure Act.