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. 

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**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.

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**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)

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**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. 

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**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-benefit-providers.

Not all providers plan to offer connected devices through the program.

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**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.

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**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

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**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 (**in-person**) with applying through the National Verifier Service provider portal; or

· The service provider helps the consumer apply using their FCC approved alternate verification process.

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**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. 

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**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.

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**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-to-apply/show-you-qualify/

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**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-benefit-providers

A comprehensive FAQ on the EBB program

https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-faq-emergency-broadband-benefit

Toll free number for questions:  833-511-0311

To apply: www.GetEmergencyBroadband.org