Local providers to honor Emergency Broadband Benefit program

Saturday, August 7, 2021

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is offering a temporary program, the Emergency Broadband Benefit program (EBB), to reduce the monthly cost of internet service. This program will help provide you with discounted internet at home. If your household is eligible, you could get up to $50 per month off your internet bill. Internet service providers will help sign up eligible households until funding for the program runs out.

According to the FCC, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a program that provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households. If your household is eligible, you can receive:

• Up to a $50/month discount on your broadband service and associated equipment rentals

• Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands

• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)

Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household. To receive the connected device discount, consumers need to enroll in the EBB Program with a participating provider that offers connected devices (not all service providers offer device discounts). The service provider will provide the discount to the consumer.

The program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner.

According to the FCC, AT&T (fixed/mobile); Fidelity Communications (fixed); Cricket Wireless (mobile); CenturyLink (fixed); and Verizon (fixed/mobile) have all opted to honor the program.

In her capitol report, Rep. Patricia Pike noted: In Missouri, the House Special Interim Committee on Broadband Development continues to look at ways to improve broadband internet access across the state and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is working to make internet service more affordable for those who can access it. The FCC recently announced a new Emergency Broadband Benefit program to reduce the monthly cost of internet service for eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid or the FCC’s Lifeline program;

• Is 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;

• Has received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;

• Has experienced a substantial loss of income through job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or

• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Internet service providers can help sign up eligible households until funding for the program runs out. More information about this program can be found through the Missouri Department of Economic Development at ded2.mo.gov/GETCONNECTED or by calling 833-511-0311.

Also in her report, Rep. Pike explained Senate Bill 45.

Supporting Firefighters (SB 45)

The Missouri General Assembly took a strong stand this session in support of the men and women who put their lives on the line each day as firefighters. Lawmakers approved legislation that creates a fund to provide relief to firefighters who develop cancer while on the job.

The bill allows three or more political subdivisions to come together to create a “Voluntary Firefighter Cancer Benefits Pool”. The pool would then be allowed to provide payments to individuals who develop cancer as a result of their work as a firefighter. Inclusion in the pool is voluntary, and not mandatory.

Under the act, any political subdivision can make contributions to the pool. The pool may also accept or apply for grants or donations from private or public sources.

Supporters say this is a way to support the men and women who receive little compensation as they put their lives on the line to serve Missouri communities. They note there is a higher risk of more than a dozen different types of cancer for those who have been exposed to burning chemical compounds. The benefits pool will help firefighters who develop cancer to get the care and treatment they need.

For more information, contact Representative Patricia Pike at patricia.pike@house.mo.gov or call (573) 751-5388.

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