FCC’s Broadband Program Reaches 2.3 Million Households in Three Weeks
WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission announced today that 2.3 million households have enrolled in its Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, not even a month after its launch.
The subsidy program provides eligible households with discounted, high-speed broadband service as well as devices like a tablet or a computer. With over 1000 broadband providers joining in the effort, the program seeks to assist the long-term goal of closing the digital divide between communities with high-speed internet and those without.
It will provide “good data” that will “inform any long-term efforts to address broadband affordability,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Proponents of the temporary program have called for a permanent version of it, as well as better data.
Today’s statement also included the announcement of a new data dashboard that tracks the EBB Program’s progress through the Universal Service Administrative Company, which administers the FCC’s Universal Service Fund that ensures low-income households have communication services.
There are various ways for households to apply for the EBB Program. If they are participating in other existing assistance programs like Medicaid, SNAP, FCC’s Lifeline Program or a meal subsidy program for their school-aged child, they can apply through those programs. They are also eligible if they are a Federal Pell Grant recipient for post-secondary education or if their broadband provider has a COVID-19 relief program.
In The News
Health
Voting
In The News
The Biden administration is being pressured to decide by the end of the month as to whether to reverse Title 42, known as the Public Health Service Act, used to restrict non-essential travel across the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In March 2020,... Read More
WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden announced Tuesday he would meet with state governors next week to map out a strategy for handling disasters from severe weather. Heat and drought in western states is creating wildfires and crop damage. The National Weather Service is predicting potentially heavy... Read More
A recent survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and Interfaith Youth Core finds that faith-based approaches supporting vaccine uptake can influence members of key hesitant groups to get vaccinated. Religious leaders can help overturn hesitancy by battling popular assumptions that groups like QAnon have... Read More
This week marked the official beginning of summer, and in preparation, the World Against Toys Causing Harm, known as W.A.T.C.H., produced a Summer Safety Report for parents and caregivers to navigate summer heat safety for children whose injuries typically double during the summer months. “We want... Read More
Tom Perez, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, announced Wednesday that he is running for governor of Maryland, seeking to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. Perez, who served as labor secretary for then-President Barack Obama and also led the Justice Department’s Civil Rights... Read More
WASHINGTON - The New Democrat Coalition on Wednesday endorsed its first slate of bills in the 117th Congress to confront the existential threat of climate change, building on the Coalition’s work to advance an ambitious and actionable policy agenda to attain net-zero emissions by 2050. As... Read More
