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    FCC (and New York State) Offer Broadband Relief for Struggling Families

   Josh Centers

   The US Federal Communications Commission has launched a new
   [1]Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to help families struggling to
   pay for Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020,
   Congress established the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity
   Fund; the EBB Program will remain available until those funds are
   expended.

   The EBB Program provides eligible households a discount of up to $50
   per month toward broadband service ($75 per month for those living on
   Tribal lands) from participating providers. If you qualify, you can
   also get a one-time discount of up to $100 on a laptop, desktop, or
   tablet from a smaller set of participating providers if you co-pay more
   than $10 but less than $50. We're not sure what devices would be
   included, but it seems unlikely providers would offer from Apple given
   that the cheapest Apple product would be the $329 iPad.

   Households qualify if they:
     * Have an income at or below 135% of the [2]Federal Poverty
       Guidelines
     * Are enrolled in assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or
       Lifeline
     * Receive free or reduced-price school meals in the 2019'2020 or
       2020'2021 school years
     * Received a Federal Pell Grant this year
     * Experienced a significant loss of income due to job loss or
       furlough since 29 February 2020 and had an income below $99,000 for
       single filers or $198,000 for joint filers
     * Meet the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's
       existing low-income or COVID-19 relief program

   You can apply through either a [3]participating provider (which
   includes cellular companies) or the [4]Universal Service Administrative
   Company. The USAC site says it's experiencing high demand, so you may
   be better off contacting a local provider.

New York Mandates Affordable Internet for Low-Income Households

   The EBB Program will end when its $3.2 billion fund is exhausted, but
   the State of New York is going further with [5]an even stronger law
   that requires Internet service providers operating in New York State to
   offer basic broadband service'at least 25 Mbps'to eligible low-income
   households for $15 per month. In areas like New York City, where speeds
   tend to be faster, the law caps the price of high-speed broadband over
   200 Mbps at $20 per month. (The current average price is $50 per
   month.)

   New York households [6]qualify for this program if they are eligible
   for or receiving free or reduced-price lunch, supplemental nutrition
   assistance program benefits, Medicaid benefits, the senior citizen or
   disability rent increase exemptions, or an affordability benefit from a
   utility.

   Additionally, funds from Schmidt Futures and the Ford Foundation will
   provide free Internet access to 50,000 students across the state for
   the 2021'2022 school year.

References

   1. https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit
   2. https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines
   3. https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-providers
   4. https://getemergencybroadband.org/
   5. https://www.engadget.com/new-york-caps-the-cost-of-broadband-for-low-income-families-072923546.html
   6. https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-legislation-establishing-first-nation-program-provide-affordable-internet

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