Today closes out Lifeline Awareness Week, observed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), state regulatory commissions, the FCC and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates. This year’s campaign focuses on the FCC’s new Emergency Broadband Benefit.
Lifeline is an FCC program designed to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides up to a $9.25 monthly discount on qualifying voice and broadband services for eligible low-income subscribers and up to $34.25 per month for subscribers on qualifying tribal lands. Information on program eligibility and rules is available here.
This year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Commission program, the Emergency Broadband Benefit, is also available to help families and households struggling to afford internet service. Households that qualify for Lifeline also qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit. In most cases, they simply need to opt-in with their current Lifeline provider or contact a different participating provider and choose an eligible plan to start receiving the monthly benefit.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward 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 buy a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Find more information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit here. Additional resources include an FAQ about the benefit, and a web page that lists participating broadband service providers by state and U.S. territories. Apply online at GetEmergencyBroadband.org.
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