Slide 1

FCC Commit to Connect

Emergency Broadband Benefit

A program to assist households struggling to 

pay for internet service during the pandemic.

Eduard Bartholme

Associate Bureau Chief

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Eduard.Bartholme@fcc.gov
Slide 2

WHO WE ARE?

• The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is an 

independent federal agency responsible for 

implementing and enforcing America’s 

communications laws and regulations. The FCC 

regulates communications by radio, television, phone, 

satellite, and cable—the tools we use to stay 

connected.

• The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 

(CGB) develops and implements the FCC's consumer 

policies and serves as the agency's connection to the 

American consumer. Our mission includes disability 

rights, consumer education, and outreach to state, 

local and Tribal governments as well as consumer 

complaint disposition
Slide 3

What is the Benefit?

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a Federal 

Communications Commission (FCC) program that 

provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills 

for qualifying low-income households. Eligibile households 

can receive:

• Up to $50/month discount for broadband services; 

• Up to $75/month discount for broadband services 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.
Slide 4

Who Qualifies for the Benefit?

A household is eligible if any member...

• Received a Pell Grant in the current award year;

• Participates in the free or reduced school lunch 

program or school breakfast program;

• Experienced a substantial loss of income since 

2/29/20 and the household had a total income in 2020 

below $99,000 (single filers) or $198,000 (joint filers); 

or

• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating 

providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
Slide 5

Who Qualifies for the Benefit?

Households that qualify for Lifeline, also qualify

What is Lifeline?

Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost 

of phone and internet. Eligible customers will get up to 

$9.25 (up to $34.25 on Tribal lands) toward their bill. 

How do I qualify for Lifeline?

Household income is less than 135% of the Federal 

poverty guidelines

or

A member of the household participates in one of these 

programs:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 

formerly known as Food Stamps

• Medicaid

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

• Tribal programs (and you live on federally-recognized 

Tribal lands)
Slide 6

Additional Details

• The enrollment date is expected to begin by the end 

of April

• The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary 

program developed in response to the COVID-19 

pandemic. The program will end once the program 

funds are exhausted, or six months after the 

Department of Health and Human Services declares 

an end to the pandemic, whichever comes first.

• The program is administered by the Universal Service 

Administrative Company (USAC). They also 

administer the Lifeline program. USAC host’s the 

application portal, and the 

GetEmergencyBroadband.org consumer portal. 
Slide 7

Participating Providers

The program is administered by the Universal Service 

Administrative Company (USAC). They also 

administer the Lifeline program. USAC host’s the 

application portal, and the 

GetEmergencyBroadband.org consumer portal. 

• Fixed broadband services are provided to your home, 

or a single location. These include cable, fiber optic, 

DSL, and fixed wireless services.

• Mobile broadband services are device-based and 

available throughout the service provider’s cellular 

coverage area, similar to cell phone services.

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, www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefitproviders.

Not all providers plan to offer connected devices through 

the program.
Slide 8

What is a Household?

A household is a group of people who live together and 

share money (even if they are not related to each other). If 

you live together and share money, you are one 

household. If you either don’t live together or you don’t 

share money, you are two or more households.

• A household can qualify because of eligible 

dependent children, or older adult household 

members that meet the eligibility criteria

• Households within multi-unit dwellings, such as 

apartment buildings where the landlord or the 

property manager is paid a fee for internet, may enroll 

in benefit if they otherwise qualify. We recommend 

talking to the property manager/landlord and 

requesting that they work with their broadband service 

provider to learn more about the program and how to 

enroll eligible residents. 

• A household worksheet will be available to assist in 

determining households eligibility.
Slide 9

How Do I Enroll?

There are three ways to apply for the Emergency 

Broadband Benefit

Option 1: Apply via a service provider. Find participating 

EBB service providers at GetEmergencyBroadband.org

Option 2: Apply via the Universal Service Administrative 

Company’s National Verifier at 

GetEmergencyBroadband.org

Option 3: Apply by mail
Slide 10

Enroll via a Provider

• Contact a service provider. Find a list of participating 

service providers by state at: 

www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-providers

• The service provider assists the consumer (inperson) with applying through the National Verifier 

Service provider portal; or

• The service provider helps the consumer apply using 

their FCC approved alternate verification process.
Slide 11

Apply Directly Online

Visit: www.GetEmergencyBroadband.org

Submit: Click "How to Apply" and complete the electronic 

application

Contact: After receiving an eligibility determination from 

the National Verifier, the consumer can contact a service 

provider to enroll in the EBB program.
Slide 12

Apply by Mail

• Download and print a paper application from 

GetEmergencyBroadband.org 

(Participating providers may also supply consumers 

with paper applications)

• Mail the completed application to:

Emergency Broadband Support Center

P.O. Box 7081

London, KY 40742

• To help with application processing Include 

supporting documents to prove eligibility and the 

household worksheet.
Slide 13

Show You Qualify

• When applying for the Emergency Broadband Benefit 

using USAC’s online application, they will attempt to 

confirm your information automatically. 

• Online and mail in applicants may be asked to provide 

information or documentation to validate identity, 

address or eligibility. 

• To confirm your eligibility, additional documentation 

can be mailed or submitted electronically. Examples 

of acceptable documents that can be used to validate 

information can be found at: 

https://getemergencybroadband.org/how-toapply/show-you-qualify/
Slide 14

Consumer Protections

• Participating providers must give you notice about the 

last date or billing cycle that the full benefit will apply 

to your bill and the date or billing cycle that a partial 

benefit will apply to your bill, in addition to information 

about the cost of your broadband service after the 

program ends.

• Households will need to opt-in or request to continue 

broadband services with their provider. If you don’t 

opt-in or select a new service plan with your provider, 

your broadband service will end once the program 

ends. Even if you had service with the same provider 

before enrolling in the Emergency Broadband Benefit, 

you will need to opt-in to continue broadband services 

after the program ends.
Slide 15

FCC Outreach Toolkit

• Social

• Logos

• Social Media Images

• Draft Social Media Posts

• Newsletter Insert

• Printables

• Fact Sheet

• Flyer

• 9”x 5” Info Card

• 1⁄4 Page Flyer

• Poster

• Draft Press Release

• Videos and PSAs

• ASL Video

• Overview Video

• How to Apply Video

• Audio PSAs

• PowerPoint Slide Deck
Slide 16

Questions? Here are Resources

The FCC’s EBB Consumer Page:

https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit

The FCC’s list, by state, of EBB providers

https:// www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefitproviders

A comprehensive FAQ on the EBB program

https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-faq-emergency-broadbandbenefit

Toll free number for questions: 833-511-0311

To apply: www.GetEmergencyBroadband.org