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.
A household is eligible for the EBB if it has an income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines OR any member of the household:
- Qualifies for Lifeline benefits through participation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance or Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
- Participates in one of several Tribal specific programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard), Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020, due to job loss or furlough AND has a total household income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers
- Received a federal Pell Grant in the current award year
- Received approval for 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
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program and that provider received FCC approval for its eligibility verification process
Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household. Program rules do acknowledge there may be more than one eligible household residing at the same address.
More information about EBB and how to apply is available here.