Cal State San Bernardino is working with the Federal Communications Commission to build awareness of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic by providing a monthly discount off the cost of broadband service.

The program launched May 12.

The $3.2 billion FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a discount of up to a $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households, and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying Tribal lands. The benefit also provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider.

“Families in every corner of the country have been struggling to get online throughout this pandemic. For those families, we now say help is around the corner,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in an FCC  news release. “In less than two weeks, we will have a new way for disconnected Americans to access the internet to carry out their day-to-day life, so they can reach the virtual classroom, take advantage of telehealth, and seek new employment opportunities. I’m proud of the work we’ve done as an agency to get this program off the ground in record time.”

To help promote the program, CSUSB has created a university webpage that provides information regarding the program and eligibility requirements.

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% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid or the FCC’s Lifeline program;
  • 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 through job loss or furlough since Feb. 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.

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail-in application. Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, or by calling (833) 511-0311 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. any day of the week.

For more information about the broadband benefit, please visit the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit website and the Emergency Broadband benefit FAQ website.