The FCC just approved the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which provides a $50 monthly credit on internet bills for low-income families who qualify. I got excited about this, so I went looking for more information. There was plenty of press about the program, but how do you sign up? The answer: you don’t.
First, you need to qualify as an eligible low-income family (income loss due to the pandemic may qualify you), then you just have to keep checking at fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit for more information. From the FCC: “The program has been authorized by the FCC, but the start date has not yet been established. The FCC is working to make the benefit available as quickly as possible.”
We need to prioritize closing the digital divide, but looking at the details, I’m not sure this program even makes a dent.
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