Low-income District residents who are eligible will be able to access free and subsidized internet service at home under a $3.2 billion federal program.
Mayor Muriel Bowser‘s office announced the Emergency Broadband Benefit program offered by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday.
The temporary program will provide up to $50 per month for low-income households to pay their internet bills and a subsidy of up to $100 to participating internet service providers (ISPs) to offer a laptop, desktop or tablet for between $10-$50 per household.
In order to be benefit from the program, one of the household members must meet at least one of these criteria:
- 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
- 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 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
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program
For further details on the federal program, click here.
Families who have a student in their household may opt for Mayor Bowser’s Internet for All program, which is separate from the Emergency Broadband Benefit program and provides one year of internet service for a reduced price.