If your household — or your business — either has trouble paying for or otherwise has no access to broadband Internet, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has some connectivity aid for you.
According to TechCrunch, the $10 billion initiative to give access to broadband Internet — thus putting it one step closer to having the Internet recognized as an essential utility — has begun after months of deliberation.
The outlet is also reporting that if you qualify, you can get some much-needed connectivity aid through one of two programs.
The first program is called the Connectivity Fund. According to the acting chairwoman of the FCC, this fund is designed to “close the homework gap.” That means that if your child, specifically, had difficulty accessing their virtual classes (or anything else related to their schoolwork) because you didn’t have broadband Internet in your house, this connectivity aid program is designed to help you.
Wi-Fi hot spots, tablets, and laptops are also covered under this program. So, if you need assistance, it’s essential to go to your child’s school and let them know that you’d like to participate in this program, so they can start the process.
The next fund is called the Emergency Broadband Benefit. This bit of connectivity aid, however, requires a little bit of work to get.
Unlike the previous fund, the Emergency Broadband Benefit is something you can only get once, and it’s only available until the $3 billion in aid runs out.
It allows for $50 for most Americans, and $75 for Native Americans on tribal lands, to cover service costs. Additionally, the Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a $100 discount for the necessary hardware (assuming you meet the eligibility requirements, which are provided here).
Applications for both connectivity aid funds are available now, and can be downloaded here. You can also apply for both funds by mail if you don’t have access to a printer or other necessary documentation.
