City of Laredo Encourages Citizens to Apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Written by Post Public Information Representative, May 13, 2021, 0 Comments
Courtesy David Alegria,
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a temporary discount for eligible households with ISP providers.
Laredo, Texas — On May 12, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. The City of Laredo encourages citizens to apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which will provide a temporary discount for eligible low-income households with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) including Charter Communications (Spectrum). This program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) with oversight from the FCC. The purpose for this program is to help qualified persons stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic and close the gap on the affordability side of the digital divide.
According to the USAC’s website, eligible households can receive the following discounts:
Up to a $50/month discount on broadband service and associated equipment rentals
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
Approval for benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program
Eligibility for individuals to apply for this program includes:
Demonstrate low income, at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty level
Participate in assistance programs including SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline
Rely on free and reduced-price school meals
Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
Suffered a large loss in income during the COVID-19 pandemic 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
Meet other eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low income or COVID-19 program
“This program is a big opportunity for low-income households in our community,” states IT Director, Homero Vasquez-Garcia. “I encourage qualified individuals to apply for this program as it will ease costs and continue helping us stay connected.”
The application is now available and can be accessed by contacting a participating provider or enrolling online by clicking here. The program will end as soon as funds run out or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency. For more information, the community can visit getemergencybroadband.org/ or call (833) 511-0311. An application by mail can also be requested by calling the same number. Due to the temporary nature of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, it is encouraged for qualified households to apply as soon as possible.
