City of Mesquite recently issued the following announcement.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a federal 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.
About the Emergency Broadband Benefit
The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount per household. This is a temporary discount that ends when the federal funding is exhausted or when the DPHHS declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency. Discounts are available on a first come, first served basis.
Who Is Eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program?
A household is eligible if one member of the household:
- Qualifies for the Lifeline program;
- Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2021-2022 school year;
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
- Please visit the following website for program updates and to apply: https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit
- Once your application has been approved, please contact your local Reliance Connects office with your EBBP Application ID Number.
- If you are currently receiving Lifeline benefits, you are automatically eligible for EBBP and do not need to apply. Please contact our office to authorize us to add this additional temporary discount to your account.
- Phone (702) 346-5211 or email Contact@rconnects.com
- Providers must obtain an affirmative opt-in from households before they can be charged an amount higher than they would pay under the full EBB program reimbursement amount permitted by the rules. This opt-in will be signed by the customer when they enroll in EBBP with Reliance Connects.
- This includes any potential increased payment as a result of a partial reimbursement during the program’s final month.
- This includes customers that were broadband customers prior to EBB program.
- Must also notify households of the upcoming increase to their monthly bills at least 30 days before the end of the program.
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