On February 26, 2021, the FCC released a Report and Order that established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, a $3.2 billion federal initiative to help lower the cost of high-speed internet for eligible households during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  The program will provide two benefits:  a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband services for eligible households (and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands), and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if the household contributes $10-$50 toward the purchase price.  The FCC expects that purchased devices will “be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities.”  The FCC expects that the program will be open to eligible households by the end of April.

Links to the Fact Sheet
URL:     https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-emergency-broadband-benefit-program-fact-sheet
Word:    https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-370355A1.docx
PDF:     https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-370355A1.pdf
Text:     https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-370355A1.txt

Links to the Report and Order:
URL:     https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-report-and-order-emergency-broadband-benefit-program-0
Word:    https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-21-29A1.docx
PDF:     https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-21-29A1.pdf
Text:     https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-21-29A1.txt

For general information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-program.  For further information, please contact Eric Wu, Attorney Advisor, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-1543 or by email at Eric.Wu@fcc.gov.  Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).

Updated:
Tuesday, March 9, 2021