Reliable and affordable access to the internet is essential for everything from scheduling health care appointments to ensuring students have the necessary tools for remote learning. Unfortunately, people in the United States pay some of the highest prices in the world to access the internet.

Lack of internet access, or the digital divide, has long been a problem across the country, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made access to the internet even less affordable. This pandemic continues to prove that having access to the internet at home is an essential resource. Yet, our nation’s most marginalized communities are hit hardest by the digital divide.

That’s why the civil rights community pushed Congress to implement a new Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), to help make sure more people can afford to stay connected to the internet during the pandemic. This program, run through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), rolled out on May 12, 2021 — when eligible households can begin to apply for this short-term program, which will provide up to $50 toward the cost of broadband service.

As a new, first-of-its-kind program, the EBB provides discounts on eligible households’ internet bills. Program participants will receive a discount of up to $50 per month toward home internet service for eligible households, and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating Internet Service Providers.

As trusted leaders, we need your help to ensure that our communities know about the Emergency Broadband Benefit so that they can take advantage of it. Help us spread the word with this outreach toolkit, including sample social media posts and ready-made graphics!

The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides:

  • Up to $50/month discount for broadband service;
  • Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying tribal lands; and
  • A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating Internet Service Provider if the household contributes more than $10 but less than $50 toward the purchase price.

Join us in helping eligible households enroll in the EBB online, by mail, or through a participating broadband provider. Let’s #GetConnectedEBB, and encourage households to enroll in this important program!