For some families and households, being able to flip open a laptop and go online at home during this difficult time is a budget buster, but help is now available. The Federal Communications Commission recently launched a new, temporary program for folks struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, and BCLS has the scoop!
The $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program provides to eligible households that meet certain criteria:
- A discount of up to $50 per month for broadband service.
- A discount of up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
- A one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from a participating provider.
The EBB program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail-in application.
To learn more about the benefit program, including eligibility and enrollment information, visit www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, or call (833) 511-0311.
Looking for other ways to go online at home and elsewhere? Don’t forget about the library system’s all-new device lending program. Thanks to a $45,103 grant awarded to BCLS last year, you can now connect to the internet for free by borrowing a mobile hotspot. The program allows you to borrow tablet kits (with wireless mice and keyboards) and free mobile WiFi for three weeks at a time, with the option to renew if no one else is waiting for a device. The tablets come loaded with essential apps such as Google Drive and Microsoft Office, Zoom for virtual meetings, Rosetta Stone, Overdrive and more. Borrow a tablet kit or free mobile WiFi by visiting the circulation desk at the Burlington County Library, as well as Cinnaminson and Pemberton libraries.
