The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in education. School closures forced thousands of students across Maricopa County to transition to at-home learning, many of them without the proper resources such as access to computers and internet service.

1.3 million Arizonans need internet. We’re here to change that.

As a member of the Arizona Broadband Stakeholder Network, Valley of the Sun United Way advocates for programs that help close the digital divide in our community, including the Emergency Broadband Benefit, a $3.2 billion Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiative that provides qualifying households discounts on internet service bills and the opportunity to receive a discount on a computer or tablet.

In addition to providing a better opportunity for children to learn from home, access to reliable broadband internet will enable our community to:

• Apply for jobs and support economic development
• Train a 21st century workforce
• Enhance public safety and health care
• Gain access to telemedicine
• Improve social engagement with friends and family

WHO CAN QUALIFY FOR THE EMERGENCY BROADBAND BENEFIT:

- If one household member experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020:

• Layoff or furlough
• Receiving unemployment benefits and the total household income for 2020 was below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers.

- If one household member received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year

- If one household member 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

- If one household member meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband Internet service provider’s EXISTING low-income or COVID-19 program

- If one household member qualifies for the Lifeline program, typically by participating in one of the following benefits:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
• Having an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (currently calculated at $17,388.00 per year)
• On Tribal lands qualifying Tribal-specific federal assistance program

NOTE: Households receiving the Lifeline benefit can apply for and receive discounts through the EBB Program on top of their Lifeline benefit.

WHAT THE DISCOUNT INCLUDES:

- Monthly $50 discount on broadband Internet service ($75 discount on Tribal lands), per household, from a participating provider’s rate schedule, fixed on December 1, 2020.

- Discount applies to “bundled services” that include text messaging and voice mail, as well as to bundles that include modems, routers, hotspots, etc.

- Discount also applies to “bulk billing” where broadband internet service is included in monthly rent, such as for households in:

• Mobile home parks
• Apartment buildings
• Low-income housing
• Senior centers
• Assisted living and nursing homes
• For eligible households, their monthly rent is reduced by the discount

- Entities such as school districts, health care providers, assisted living or nursing facilities, and local governments can/may purchase service ‘in bulk’ for eligible households.”

HOW TO APPLY:

Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan. Find broadband service providers offering the Emergency Broadband Benefit in your state or territory. For a list of possible broadband internet providers, contact: Connect Arizona at 602-529-1519 Weekdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are three ways for eligible households to apply:

1. 1. Contact a participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process. If you are unable to apply through them directly, you will have to apply using option 2 or 3 below and then contact a participating provider to select an eligible plan.
2. 
   

1. 2. Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you. After you apply, you will have to contact a participating provider to select an eligible plan.
2. 
   

1. 3. Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application or print a copy, and return it along with copies of documents showing proof of eligibility to:

Emergency Broadband Support Center
P.O. Box 7081
London, KY 40742

After you received a notice that you have qualified for the program, you must contact a participating provider to select an Emergency Broadband Benefit eligible service plan. Check out the Broadband Benefit Consumer FAQ for more information about the benefit.

For more information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit, or to apply for benefits, visit https://getemergencybroadband.org/.

If you have questions about this program and would like to speak to our United Way staff member who sits on the Digital Divide Task Force for Arizona Broadband Stakeholder Network (AZBSN), please contact Vice President of Community Impact (Education) Melissa Boydston at mboydston@vsuw.org or 602.631.4854