Households with lower incomes and those that incurred financial losses during the coronavirus pandemic can receive a discount of up to $50 per month on their broadband Internet service through a federal program.
Applications are being accepted beginning today for the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, or EBB.
Besides the Internet discount, EBB offers a one-time device discount of up to $100 toward a qualifying tablet, laptop or desktop computer.
Households are eligible if their income is no more than 135% of federal poverty guidelines, or if at least one member:
- Receives free or reduced-price school meals;
- Received a Pell Grant during the current year;
- Experienced "a substantial loss of income" during the pandemic, and the household earns less than $99,000 (single filer) or $198,000 (joint filers).
"I encourage anybody who has struggled to pay their Internet bills to apply for this benefit," Pennsylvania acting Human Services Secretary Meg Snead said in a statement.
For more details, visit the Federal Communications Commission's EBB page. To apply, contact your broadband service provider or visit getemergencybroadband.org.
