PA Residents Can Apply For $50 Off Internet Bill From New Program

PENNSYLVANIA — Starting Wednesday, Pennsylvanians can apply for a temporary program that provides a discount of up to $50 per month off a household's internet bill and associated equipment rental.

The federal Emergency Broadband Benefit, administered by the Federal Communications Commissions, allows eligible households to receive the discount along with a one-time discount of up to $100 towards a tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

The discount will be provided by the FCC directly to the service provider.

“The past year has shown us just how essential internet access is in order to connect with our loved ones, our workplaces and schools, and even to basic needs like telehealth and grocery delivery," Acting Department of Human Services Secretary Meg Snead said. "We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many to keep up with bills and expenses, so we are glad that the FCC is providing this benefit to people who need it. Assistance programs like this exist to help get you through tough times. I encourage anybody who has struggled to pay their internet bills to apply for this benefit.”

A household is eligible if one member meets at least one of the following criteria:

• 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 2019-2020 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;
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating internet provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program; or,
• Qualifies for the FCC’s Lifeline program.
• Households qualify for the federal Lifeline program if their income is less than 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or if they or their child participate in programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), or other federal programs. Eligible participants can receive Lifeline and EBB at the same time.
• DHS has partnered with the FCC to provide a real time data exchange that verifies whether an individual is already receiving SNAP, Medicaid or SSI so that individuals receiving these programs will be able to more easily qualify for this new benefit as well as Lifeline.

To apply for the EBB program, contact your participating internet service provider, or visit getemergencybroadband.org to apply online or print a paper application to mail in.

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