EMERGENCY
BROADBAND
BENEFIT
Helping households connect during the Pandemic
Eligible households may apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to help families and households struggling to afford broadband internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides:
- Up to $50/month discount for broadband service;
- Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Round Rock ISD households with students receiving free and reduced lunch program benefits are eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. When applying for the EBB program online, student eligibility will be verified using the National School Lunch Program database with parent/guardian and student(s) social security numbers.
Households can be eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below:
- Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
- Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, 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 due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020; or
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
- Learn more about eligibility.
Starting May 12, 2021 eligible households can sign up online, or with a mail-in application.
- Find companies near you that can reduce the cost of phone or internet service through the EBB program.
- Determine your EBB program eligibility and gather required proof of eligibility documents.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount per household. You will have to show proof of income, like pay stubs or a tax return, when you apply for the EBB Program. Application process explained in PDF. - Then, apply online (available in English and Spanish) or print and complete an application in English or Spanish (instructions also available in 9 additional languages) or call 1-833-511-0311 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. any day of the week for a mail-in application, and return it along with proof of eligibility to:
Emergency Broadband Support Center
P.O. Box 7081, London, KY. 40742 - After applying either online or by mail through the EBB program portal, contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to complete their application process.
- After the provider and EBB program applications are certified, eligible and approved households will receive the EBB program credit within two billing cycles.
Before you apply
Before you apply, it is important to understand that the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will end when the fund runs out of money or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner. Participating households will need to opt-in to continue receiving broadband services from their provider after the program ends. If a household chooses to continue receiving service after the end of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, they will be billed the broadband provider’s general monthly rate.
Important links to learn more, and apply
- Consumer FAQ – Questions and answers on eligibility, how to apply, participating service providers, connected device benefits, Tribal benefits, and program length.
- Participating Providers Look Up Tool – Find broadband service providers offering the Emergency Broadband Benefit in your state or territory.
- Emergency Broadband Benefit Consumer Information Hub
- GetEmergencyBroadband.org – The website where consumers will be able to apply for the benefit.