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  Homework Gap and Connectivity Divide girl wearing ear buds writing in front of laptop computer

Nearly 17 million school children lack internet access at home, creating a nationwide Homework Gap that left unsolved could be become an opportunity gap. Chairwoman Rosenworcel, who coined the term Homework Gap, has long advocated for programs to support students left offline because they can’t access or afford broadband services. Now, the FCC is working on two major programs to provide help to these communities.



**Emergency Broadband Benefit**

The Commission launched the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit, the first and largest program in the U.S. to address broadband affordability. The new benefit is connecting eligible households to jobs, critical health care services, virtual classrooms, and other essential resources. The temporary program provides 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.



**Affordable Connectivity Program**

The Commission launched the Affordable Connectivity Program on December 31, 2021 as a successor program to the EBB to help ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet 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. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.



**Helping Close the Homework Gap**

The $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund helps schools and libraries close the Homework Gap by providing funding for the reasonable costs of laptop and tablet computers; Wi-Fi hotspots; modems; routers; and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.



**News**


July 27, 2022 - News ReleaseFCC Announces $77 Million In Emergency Connectivity Funding

February 23, 2022 - News ReleaseFCC Commits Another $86M in Emergency Connectivity Funding

January 10, 2022 - News ReleaseFCC Commits Over $361 Million In Additional Emergency Connectivity Fund Support To Connect Schools And Libraries

December 31, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Launches Affordable Connectivity Program

December 20, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Commits Nearly $603M in Additional Emergency Connectivity Fund Support

November 23, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Commits Over $169 Million in Additional Emergency Connectivity Fund Support

November 8, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Commits Over $421 Million In Additional Funding Through Emergency Connectivity Fund Program

October 25, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Announces Nearly $1.3 Billion In Funding Requests Received In Emergency Connectivity Fund Program Second Application Filing Window

October 12, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Commits Over $1.1 Billion In Second Funding Wave Of Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, Funding Over 2.4 Million Devices And 1.9 Million Broadband Connections

September 28, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Opens Second Filing Window For Emergency Connectivity Fund To Help Close Homework Gap

September 28, 2021 - News ReleaseMore than 6 Million Households Enroll in Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

September 24, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Commits Over $1.2 Billion In First Funding Wave Of Emergency Connectivity Fund Program To Connect Over 3.6 Million Students

August 27, 2021 - News ReleaseFive Million Households Enrolled In Broadband Discount Program

August 25, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Announces Over $5 Billion In Funding Requests Received In Emergency Connectivity Fund Program

August 11, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Reminds Schools & Libraries: Emergency Connectivity Fund Window Closes In 48 Hours

July 28, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Enrolls Over 4 Million Households In Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

July 22, 2021 - Public NoticeEmergency Connectivity Fund Service Delivery Deadline Public Notice

June 29, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Announces Release of Regional EBB Data

June 29, 2021 - News ReleaseRosenworcel Keynote Remarks to New America Pell Grant EBB Event

June 29, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Launches Emergency Connectivity Fund

June 15, 2021 - News ReleaseEmergency Connectivity Fund Application Window Opens June 29

June 7, 2021 - News Release2.3M Households Sign Up for Emergency Broadband Benefit

May 20, 2021 - News ReleaseOver One Million Households Enroll for Emergency Broadband Benefit

May 12, 2021 - News ReleaseEmergency Broadband Benefit Starts Today

May 11, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC to Launch $7.17 Billion Connectivity Fund Program

May 10, 2021 - News ReleaseFact Sheet on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

April 30, 2021 - News ReleaseRosenworcel Unveils Proposed Rules for Emergency Connectivity Fund

April 29, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Shares Start Date of Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

April 19, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Begins Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Testing

March 11, 2021 - News ReleaseRosenworcel Hails American Rescue Plan Funds to Close Homework Gap

February 22, 2021 - News ReleaseRosenworcel Proposes Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Rules

February 11, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Seeks Outreach Partners for Emergency Broadband Benefit

January 28, 2021 - News ReleaseFCC Announces Roundtable on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program



**Events**

June 25, 2021Emergency Connectivity Fund Program Overview Webinar

June 22, 2021Virtual Tribal Listening Session On Emergency Broadband Benefit

April 27, 2021Emergency Broadband Benefit Webinar for Consumers and Outreach Partners

February 12, 2021Roundtable on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

        
        
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    Broadband, Internet & IPUniversal ServiceConstituenciesLow-income
                    Rural
                    Underserved
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