Consumer FAQ for Emergency Broadband Benefit Federal Communications Commission

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A new government program aims to help qualifying households get online by providing monthly financial credits for broadband service, as well as a computer discount. The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a monthly discount for broadband service up to $50 per eligible household, or up to $75 per eligible household on Tribal lands. The discount will be applied to your broadband service, but the ultimate cost to you will depend on the eligible plan you select from a participating provider. You can also combine these benefits with other state and local benefits where available. They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and an Emergency Broadband Benefit service with the same or different providers. For example, an eligible household could have a Lifeline-supported mobile phone service and a separate home broadband service that is supported through the Emergency Broadband Benefit.

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The https://bookkeeping-reviews.com/ can be applied to equipment fees like modem and router rentals, but not installation costs. Installation fees can cost hundreds of dollars in some cases, but many providers waive or greatly reduce them if you choose a self-installation option. The benefit 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 emergency, whichever comes first.

How To Choose The Right Laptop From The EBB (Emergency Broadband Benefit) Program?

Once you signed up, you chose a 7 most important kpis to track as a small business provider in your area and paid your discounted rate to that provider each month. People experiencing homelessness are eligible if they meet one of the above criteria, even if they don’t have a fixed address. “They have a few different options,” says USAC’s Director of Communications, Jaymie Gustafson. “If there is a particular area [they’re staying], they can use that as a descriptive address. When the program opens up on May 12, you can apply online at GetEmergencyBroadband.org.

Unfortunately, Cox and Windstream are the only major providers that have opted in to the device portion of the benefit so far. Cities will have a key role to play in the implementation of this emergency program. Only eligible consumers may enroll in the program and the benefit is limited to one monthly benefit per household on a qualifying mobile broadband service plan. AT&T PREPAID/Cricket reserves the right to cancel the monthly benefit at any time. If your monthly service charge is $0 after the benefit, you must use the service each calendar month, or the benefit will be discontinued. It also lays out a series of alternative documentation options for households to prove eligibility.

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AT&T PREPAID is sold online, in AT&T company stores and authorized retailers adjacent to other AT&T products and services. AT&T PREPAID is also sold in more than 60,000 locations across the country, including national retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy and regional retailers such as Walgreens, Dollar Stores, CVS, Rite-Aid, Kroger and others. Households located on qualifying Tribal lands will continue to receive a $75 monthly benefit and will not need to take any action to continue receiving the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit.

Broadband providers not already in the USAC system as ETCs will need to first apply for approval from the FCC, then file an election to participate with USAC. The Affordable Connectivity Program is a federal program that provides qualifying households an up to $30 per month benefit on eligible AT&T wireless or internet service. Households on Tribal lands may be eligible for a benefit up to $75 per month. After the transition period ends on March 1, 2022, the monthly discount for all legacy EBB participants not located on qualifying Tribal lands will be reduced to $30.

Income range according to federal guidelines:

If you submit an application to the Emergency Broadband Support Center by mail, you will receive updates by mail regarding your application status. For example, USAC will contact you if additional information or documents are needed and if your application has been approved. Once you receive notification that you qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit, you can sign up for service with a participating provider following the instructions provided in the email or letter confirming your approval.

They can walk you through USAC’s verification process, or they may have the approval to submit applications on their own. Once you’re approved, you can choose a provider near you that offers EBB discounts and sign up for service. You will receive additional details about the steps you need to take from the program administrator or your internet service provider in January 2022, and will be given at least 30 days to respond. If contacted, you should provide eligibility documentation so you can continue in the ACP once the transition period ends on March 1, 2022. You will continue to receive your full Emergency Broadband Benefit until March 1, 2022. Yes, if you applied online at GetEmergencyBroadband.org or by mail and have been approved, you need to contact your preferred service provider to select an Emergency Broadband Benefit eligible service plan.

What Do Households Receive?

They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and a broadband service with the same or different providers as long as the provider is participating in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. For example, an eligible household could have a Lifeline-supported mobile service and a separate home broadband service that is supported through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. EBB is a temporary federal government program that provides eligible customers a temporary benefit of up to $50/mo. Eligible households on qualifying Tribal lands can receive a benefit of up to $75/mo. Almost all internet service providers are open to the EBB program. While these providers aren’t currently providing the Emergency Broadband Benefit, they may still opt to participate in the program before it opens.

If you want to apply the EBB discount to service with your current broadband provider you will need to contact your provider after your application is approved. You must opt-in with your existing provider or request enrollment in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program with a participating broadband provider and chose an eligible service plan. You can choose to receive the benefit from your current Lifeline service provider or another participating provider. Households enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of December 31, 2021 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit until March 1, 2022. Your provider and the program administrator will share more information about the program transition and any steps you may need to take to continue receiving discounted service. Various broadband providers, including those offering landline and wireless broadband, will be participating in the Emergency Broadband Benefit.

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According to the FCC, this is the nation’s “largest-ever program” to help connect low-income households to affordable internet. For households not located on qualifying Tribal lands, if your monthly service bill is below $30 per month it will still be covered in full by the Affordable Connectivity Program. If your bill totals more than $30 per month you will be responsible for the difference. Contact your provider to find out if they have different plans available that may be covered in full by the new $30 benefit amount. The National League of Cities and numerous local governments and locally-focused organizations participated in the accelerated comment period in January and early February. The FCC has recognized that local governments are a critical partner for the EBB’s success by citing these comments throughout the Report and Order.

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1 The Temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a temporary emergency government benefit program operated by the Federal Communications Commission. Regular AT&T PREPAID or Cricket rates apply at the conclusion of the program. If what you need is voice service and wireless internet access on your phone, then a smartphone plan is a great choice.

Contact your provider If you are concerned about a possible increase in your monthly service bill or are interested in changing to a different service plan. It leverages existing infrastructure from the Lifeline program to check eligibility and communicate with internet service providers. Once the program opens, you’ll be able to apply through your ISP or the Universal Service Administrative Company , which oversees the Lifeline and EBB programs. The FCC will then verify that you’re eligible for the program and the $50/mo. From there, the FCC will reimburse your internet provider directly.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. 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. These households will receive additional details about the steps they need to take from the program administrator or their internet service provider, in January 2022, and will be given at least 30 days to respond. They will continue to receive their full Emergency Broadband Benefit until March 1, 2022. The program will provide qualifying households with a $50 stimulus internet credit on their internet bill each month. All eligible households can also get up to $100 off a laptop, desktop computer or tablet, but they’ll have to pay between $10 and $50 themselves, and they’ll have to purchase it through their internet service provider .

Go to the National Verifier website and check your household’s eligibility status. The national verifier will determine your eligibility for the EBB program free laptop. The National verifier will go through the information you provided and check the server to look for if there’s any unauthorized issue.

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In other words, to take advantage of this benefit, it must be done through your participating broadband provider, and you must contribute a portion of the cost. The device benefit is limited to a laptop, a desktop computer, or a tablet. It does not include cell phones, large phones, or “phablets” that can make cellular calls. Local governments should work to publicize the benefit to eligible households. The FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau has been directed to develop materials to advertise the program in a variety of languages, in digital and printable formats, to be used by organizations and the public.

Check with the broadband providers in your area to learn about their plans for program participation and eligible service offerings. You can find a list of participating providers by state and territory on this webpage, /emergency-broadband-benefit-providers. Internet Service Providers participating in the program may offer broadband through a variety of technologies. In order to participate in the program, they must either already be an eligible telecommunications carrier through the USAC system or designated as such by a state, or they must go through an expedited approval process with the FCC. They must also be able to prove, through FCC Form 477 filings or other documentation, that they offered retail broadband service to end-users as of December 1, 2020. Community-owned networks, cooperatives and municipal ISPs are all explicitly included as eligible participants, as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements.

Talk to your provider about the plans they have available as part of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. NLC and other commenters were recognized for raising concerns about the program ending and transitioning providers and beneficiaries out of the EBB program without surprise higher bills. The FCC and USAC are committed to providing regular assessments and updates on the fund’s usage and predict when the fund will be exhausted. This public tracker will work to forecast when claims can no longer be fully paid about days out. For the latest updates from the FCC, including an informational listserv, past and upcoming educational events, and documentation, visitfcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.

Your internet provider is required to give you notice when the program is ending, along with the new price of service. What if you’re not enrolled in Lifeline, but have been using a low-income or COVID-19 relief program with your internet provider? In that case, you still might be approved automatically if the provider’s gained FCC authorization. You’ll have to contact your provider directly for more information. Contact your preferred participating provider to select an eligible plan and have the discount applied to your bill.

If you’re already enrolled in EBB with T-Mobile by December 30, 2021, you’ll continue to receive the EBB discount through March 1, 2022. If you are enrolled in EBB, you will receive additional information if you are required to take any steps to confirm eligibility for ACP. If eligible, you can continue your ACP benefit with Assurance Wireless or Metro by T-Mobile.