The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that was put into place during the pandemic to assist families with internet costs. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households. 

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

How do you know if you are eligible?

If a member of your household meets one of these criteria, you are eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit:

• You have an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline
• You have been approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program
• You received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
• You experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program

Once you confirm eligibility, you can begin the application process. You need to apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit and contact a participating provider about a service plan. 

To apply you can take three different routes:

1. Contact a participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process. If you cannot contact them directly, you will need to choose route 2 or 3 and then contact a provider to select a plan.
2. Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you. After you apply, you will have to contact a participating provider to select an eligible plan.
3. Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application or print a copy, and return it with copies of your documents showing proof of eligibility to:

Emergency Broadband Support Center

P.O. Box 7081

London, KY 40742

Once you receive notice that you have qualified for the program, you need to contact a participating provider to select a service plan that is eligible for Emergency Broadband Benefit.

Questions?

For more general information visit https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-program. 

For frequently asked questions, visit https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-faq-emergency-broadband-benefit. 

For more information about participating providers visit https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-providers.