FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program – Saving Qualified Households on their Wireless Data Plans

As of May 12, cellular providers are offering discounts on cellular plans to customers who qualify under the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit program.

This is a temporary program, designed to help families who are facing financial difficulties affording wireless internet during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Video Story

 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Program Overview

The program will provide discounts on wireless plans for qualifying customers of up to $50/month, and of up to $75/month for households on qualifying tribal lands.

The major cellular providers - AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile - are all listed as providers for this program, along with subsidiaries like Cricket, and Boost Mobile,  MVNOs like TracFone, and many other regional providers. The FCC has a list of participating providers on its website.

Qualifying customers will also be eligible for discounts of up to $100 towards the purchase of a laptop, desktop, computer, or tablet.

Each household will be eligible for one service discount and one device discount.

Program Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the program, customers must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Income level at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines, or participate in "certain" assistance programs
• Approved to receive benefits under school lunch and breakfast programs
• Received a Pell Grant
• Experienced a "substantial" loss of income due to job loss since 2/29/2020
• Meets criteria for an existing low-income program with a participating provider 

Program Details by Carrier

As mentioned above, all three of the major national cellular providers, as well as several large prepaid brands, are listed as providers in this program.

AT&T has stated that wireless plans that will be eligible for this program are the Unlimited Your Way, Unlimited Starter, Unlimited Extra, and Unlimited Elite plans, as well as "select" AT&T Prepaid, and Cricket plans. 

For more information: AT&T's EBB Program Information

Verizon has confirmed participation and is offering assistance to new customers who sign-up for a Mix & Match Unlimited phone plan or a Mobile Hotspot plan as the main or only line on an account. Existing customers must have a Mix & Match Unlimited phone plan or switch to one. Fios, 5G Home Internet, and LTE Home Internet customers are also eligible.

For more information: Verizon's EBB Program Information  

T-Mobile has also confirmed that they will be participating in this program - all T-Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile Prepaid, and Metro T-Mobile customers who qualify are eligible. 

For more information T-Mobile's EBB Program Information 

Bookmark