FCC Offers $50 Off Internet Bill
Starting today, May 12, 2021, Americans can begin applying for $50 off their monthly internet bill. The discount is an emergency government program to keep people connected during the pandemic. The $3.2 billion program is part of the $900 billion pandemic-relief package that was passed back in December. There is also a $100 reimbursement for desktop computers, laptops or tablets.
This is a temporary discount that is expected to last at least for several months. Tens of millions of people are eligible, although the Federal Communications Commission, which is administering the program, did not specify an exact number.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will provide eligible households with discounts of up to $50 a month for broadband service, and up to $75 a month if the household is on Tribal lands. It also will provide a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
There are three ways for eligible households to apply for this benefit:
- Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process.
- Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.
- Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application, and return it along with copies of documents showing proof of eligibility to:
Emergency Broadband Support Center
P.O. Box 7081
London, KY 40742
After receiving an eligibility determination, households can contact their preferred service provider to select an Emergency Broadband Benefit eligible service plan.
Eligibility
The program is aimed at low income families. A household is eligible if it has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Here are the income requirements for the Emergency Broadband Benefit:
| People in household | 48 contiguous states, DC and territories | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $17,388 | $21,722 | $20,007 |
| 2 | $23,517 | $29,390 | $27,054 |
| 3 | $29,646 | $37,058 | $34,101 |
| 4 | $35,775 | $44,726 | $41,148 |
| 5 | $41,904 | $52,394 | $48,195 |
| 6 | $48,033 | $60,062 | $55,242 |
| 7 | $54,162 | $67,730 | $62,289 |
| 8 | $60,291 | $75,398 | $69,336 |
| For each additional person, add: | $6,129 | $7,668 | $7,047 |
Even if you make more than what is listed above, you can still qualify. Anyone who experienced a “substantial loss of income” after February 29, 2020 qualifies for this FCC $50 internet discount as long as their 2020 income was at or below $99,000 for a single filer or $198,000 for joint filers.
Additionally, you are eligible if a member of your household:
- Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
- Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
- Participates in one of a number of tribal-specific assistance programs, including Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start and Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
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