Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and so much more.
Eligible households can receive:
- Up to $50/month discount for broadband service and associated equipment rentals;
- Up to $75/month discount for households on Tribal lands, and;
- A one-time discount of $100 for a laptop, desktop, or computer purchased through a participating provider.
TrioTel will only be participating in the monthly service discounts. TrioTel WILL NOT have devices available for purchase to receive the $100 one-time discount.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount per household. A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below:
- Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
- 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;
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Experienced a substantial loss of income due to 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.
When Can I Sign Up for the Benefit?
As of May 12, 2021, eligible households will be able to enroll in the program to receive a monthly discount on the cost of broadband service from an approved provider. Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting https://getemergencybroadband.org.
Check out the Broadband Benefit Consumer FAQ for more information about the benefit and please continue to check this page for program updates.
Apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit
- Go to https://getemergencybroadband.org to find participating providers near you.
- Send a mail-in application, along with proof of eligibility to:
Emergency Broadband Support Center
P.O. Box 7081
London, KY 40742
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Emergency Broadband Benefit?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms.
How much is the benefit?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide eligible households:
- Up to $50/month discount for broadband service and associated equipment rentals
- Up to $75/month discount for households on Tribal lands, and;
- A one-time discount of $100 for a laptop, desktop, or computer purchased through a participating provider.
TrioTel will only be participating in the monthly service discounts. TrioTel WILL NOT have devices available for purchase to receive the $100 one-time discount.
Can more than one person in a household qualify?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount per household. A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who are living together at the same address and share income and expenses—roommates are a household, a family living together are a household.
Can I apply for the EBB if I have a past due balance?
Yes, eligible consumers with a past due balance or a balance in collections are eligible for the benefit. The EBB does not apply to the past due balance, it will cover $50 of the current month’s invoice.
Can I use the funds to upgrade my service?
Yes, talk to your provider about the plans they have available as part of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.
Can I receive both EBB and Lifeline benefits at the same time?
Yes. You can also combine these benefits with other state and local benefits where available. They can be applied to the same qualifying service or separately to a Lifeline service and an Emergency Broadband Benefit service with the same or different providers. For example, an eligible household could have Lifeline-supported mobile phone service and a separate home broadband service that is supported through the Emergency Broadband Benefit.
How long will the EBB program last?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an emergency program developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will end once the program funds are exhausted, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the pandemic, whichever comes first.
How will I know the EBB program is ending?
TrioTel Communications, Inc. will give you notice about the last date or billing cycle that the full benefit will apply to their bill and the date or billing cycle that a partial benefit will apply to their bill, in addition to information about the cost of their broadband service after the program ends.
- The end of the program may not be timed to their billing cycle for service. This may result in them receiving less than the full monthly service discount in the final month of the program. In the event that they might receive a partial benefit in the last month of the program, we must receive their permission before we can charge them an amount higher than what they would pay if the full Emergency Broadband Benefit is applied to their broadband bill. In other words, if they were receiving a $50 discount off of their broadband bill, but based on the available funds in the program, there is only enough to provide them with a $40 discount, we must have their permission to charge them the additional $10.
- Households will need to opt-in or request to continue broadband services with us. If they don’t opt-in or select a new service plan with us, their broadband service will end once the program ends. Even if they had service with the same provider before enrolling in the Emergency Broadband Benefit, they will need to opt-in to continue broadband services after the program ends.