What Is Spectrum TV Essentials?
Spectrum TV Essentials is a live TV streaming service that includes over 70 entertainment, lifestyle and children’s networks. But there’s a catch.
Get Free Internet with the Emergency Broadband Benefit
Update: As of January 1, 2022, enrollment for the Emergency Broadband Benefit has ended. For other internet relief information, check out the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to allow families and households to afford high-speed internet during these hard times. To learn more about the program and learn if you may be eligible, please read below. Millions of Americans are currently eligible to receive discounted high-speed internet.
Your household may be eligible for a discount that you may not have even known about, including many households qualifying for free* internet. Call National Broadband now to see if you qualify.
What Is the Emergency Broadband Benefit?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a component of the CARES Act, an economic stimulus bill passed to bolster the United States economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This specific program is designed to alleviate the cost of internet service for the families and homes that need it most. This includes direct discounts on internet service and also one-time discounts on computer devices.
The program aims to connect disadvantaged households with employment opportunities, healthcare services, virtual learning and work environments and more.
UPDATE: Emergency Broadband Benefit being replaced by Affordable Connectivity Program
The last day to enroll in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program is December 31, 2021. Beginning December 31, 2021, all households fully enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program will continue to receive their Emergency Broadband Benefit monthly service discount (either $50 or $75 per month) through March 1, 2022. Effective March 1, 2022, the Emergency Broadband Benefit is being replaced by the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The Affordable Connectivity Program, a $14 billion, long-term internet aid, was recently passed by Congress to replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit. The greatest difference between the two governmental benefit programs is the monetary benefit given to qualified households.
Under the Emergency Broadband Benefit, households could receive $50 per month for internet, or $75 if the household lived on tribal lands, as well as a one-time discount on the purchase of an internet-connected device.
Under the new Affordable Connectivity Program, most qualified households will receive $30 per month, while qualified households on tribal lands will continue to receive $75 per month. The device discount remains unchanged between the two programs.
Affordable Connectivity Program Eligibility Requirements
The new, updated eligibility guidelines for Affordable Connectivity Program are listed below. Please note that requirements listed bold differ from Emergency Broadband Benefit eligibility requirements to help you differentiate between the programs. This page will be updated completely on December 31 to reflect the replacement of the Emergency Broadband Benefit with the Affordable Connectivity Program.
As with the Emergency Broadband Benefit, only one member of a household needs to meet only one criterion from the list below to be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
- Income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines;
- Participant in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
- Participant in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
- Recipient of 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, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;
- Recipient of Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating internet service provider's existing low-income program.
Again, qualifying households for the Affordable Connectivity Program will receive either $30 or $75 per month on internet service discounts and up to $100 one-time towards a new internet-connected device.
Households can still enroll in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program until December 31, 2021 to keep receiving the $50/$75 per month benefit through March 1, 2022. After March 1, 2022, the program will be switched over to the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Eligibility Requirements
There are numerous eligibility requirements that a prospective applicant and/or recipient can fulfill to receive the Emergency Broadband Benefit discounts. Only one of the requirements needs to be fulfilled in order to be considered eligible.
A customer will be automatically approved for Emergency Broadband Benefit discounts if they are signed up for SNAP/Food Stamps, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, received a Federal Pell Grant, have a Veteran’s Pension, have a Survivor’s Benefit, or other criteria.
Eligibility Criteria for a Household
Only one member of the household needs to meet only one criterion.
- Household has income at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in assistance programs which include Lifeline, SNAP, Medicaid and more. Call for full list.
- Recipient of Federal Pell Grant during current award year.
- Approved to receive free or reduced-price school lunch or breakfast program benefits. Includes USDA Community Eligibility Provision in 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic year.
- Household experienced substantial loss of income because of job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020. Total household income in 2020 must be at or below $99,000 for single filers or $198,000 for joint filers.
- Already meets eligibility criteria for EBB-participating internet service provider's current low-income/COVID-19 relief program.
Again, a household needs to meet just one of the listed criteria to be eligible to apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit. You can see if you qualify for Emergency Broadband Benefit discounts or other internet service provider discounts by calling National Broadband directly.
Available Discounts Through Emergency Broadband Benefit
There are a few different discounts on internet service and related technologies that are available for eligible households.
These discounts include:
- $50 per month towards broadband internet service
- $75 per month towards broadband internet service if household lives on qualifying Tribal lands
- $100, one-time discount towards the purchase of an online device (including a laptop, desktop computer or tablet) as long as household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 towards purchase
Emergency Broadband Benefit is capped at one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
How to Apply for Emergency Broadband Benefit
The application process for the Emergency Broadband Benefit is straightforward.
Choose one of the methods below:
- Call National Broadband today OR
- Reach out to your current and/or preferred ISP to learn about their EBB application process OR
- Eligible households can apply online at GetEmergencyBroadband.org
Applicants can also call 833-511-0311 to receive a mail-in application. It can be returned with copies of documents displaying proof of eligibility to the following address:
Emergency Broadband Support Center
P.O. Box 7081
London, KY 40702
Internet Service Providers Participating in Emergency Broadband Benefit
Most major internet service providers are participating in the program. Viasat and HughesNet, two leading satellite internet providers, are not participating. The table below shows the major providers participating in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program and whether or not they are also offering the one-time $100 device discount.
Note that the table is not comprehensive and does not mention every internet service provider that is participating.
| Provider | Monthly Service Discount | One-Time $100 Device Discount | Monthly Price After $50 EBB Discount (100-300 Mbps Download) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Yes | No | Free |
| CenturyLink | Yes | No | Free |
| Cox | Yes | Yes | $10 |
| Frontier | Yes | No | Free |
| Mediacom | Yes | No | Free |
| Optimum | Yes | No | Free |
| Spectrum | Yes | No | Free |
| Suddenlink | Yes | No | Free |
| Verizon | Yes | No | Free |
| Windstream | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Xfinity | Yes | No | Free |
You can call National Broadband today to learn more about the Emergency Broadband Benefit and to also learn about other discounts that may be available for service at your address.
Frequently asked questions
Can National Broadband help me sign up for EBB discounts?
National Broadband's knowledgeable internet experts can sign help you sign up for the EBB discount for which your household may qualify. Call now to see if you qualify. If you do not qualify for the EBB, our team can still help you find internet and TV discounts at your address.
Can I get free internet with the Emergency Broadband Benefit?
Yes, your internet can be free each month for the longevity of Emergency Broadband Benefit funding. Your internet service provider should notify you in advance of the program end date. If your total monthly internet bill (service and modem) add up to less than $50 per month ($75 on tribal lands), your internet service can be free each month.
Can you sign up for Emergency Broadband Benefit with your current internet service provider?
Yes, applicants who are under contract with an internet service provider can receive the EBB with that provider.
Are all internet service providers participating in Emergency Broadband Benefit?
Most major ISPs except for Viasat and HughesNet are participating in the Emergency Broadband Benefit.
How much money can you save with the Emergency Broadband Benefit program?
Households can receive either $50 or $75 off monthly internet service and some providers are also accepting $100 one-time discounts on connected devices, including personal computers and tablets, under certain conditions. Call National Broadband today to get a better idea of what your household could save.
