Assist your Learners in Applying for Emergency Broadband Services May 17, 2021

Assist your Learners in Applying for Emergency Broadband Services

Charlotte Tjaden, Digital Navigation Specialist

Many jobs and schools moved to distance work during the pandemic, resulting in the need for households to be better connected to the internet. This further brought out the country’s struggle with digital equity, an already existing issue.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary benefit from the FCC for people affected by the pandemic. Qualifying households on non-tribal lands can receive up to $50 per month off of broadband services, and households on qualifying tribal lands can receive up to $75 per month. Qualifying households are also able to get a one-time benefit of up to $100 off of a device at qualifying vendors when households spend $10-$50 of their own money.

To find out if you or someone you know qualifies for the emergency benefits, here are the qualifying factors:

  • Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
  • Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
  • Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020; or
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Apply now, before funding runs out

Enrollment began on May 12, 2021. The program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner. If you, someone you know, or a learner in your program is interested in applying, there are three ways to apply:

  1. Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process.
  2. Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.
  3. Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application, and return it along with proof of eligibility to:

Emergency Broadband Support Center
P.O. Box 7081
London, KY 40742

Please share this information to your programs and learners. For additional promotional material (flyers, press releases, etc.), go to the  Emergency Broadband Outreach Toolkit.

Charlotte Tjaden, Digital Navigation Specialist Literacy Minnesota

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