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New Emergency Broadband Benefit Helps Consumers Connect with Telehealth

Date: 07/07/21

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A new federal program provides discounts of $50 per month on broadband internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This helps consumers afford internet service for telehealth, job searches, virtual classrooms and more.

Telehealth is becoming more popular because it offers a convenient and safe way to get medical attention any time of day or night. Telehealth is a virtual visit with a medical provider using a smart phone or other device. It is for non-emergencies such as colds, the flu, ear infections, pink eye or others.

“Telehealth allows you to talk to medical providers right away for non-emergency needs such as a sinus infection, a sore throat, a rash, or your child’s ear ache,” said Alan R. Smith, M.D., Sunshine Health Interim Chief Medical Officer. “This new benefit makes internet service more affordable for telehealth as well as other needs such as job-searching and education.”

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a program of the Federal Communications Commission. It is designed to help families keep their internet service during the pandemic.

The benefit gives consumers a $50 reduction in their monthly internet service bill. For households on tribal lands, the discount is $75 per month. Plus, each household can receive a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. This is a temporary program designed to help during the pandemic.

Households need to meet one of the following to qualify:

  • Qualify for SNAP, Medicaid, or the Lifeline program.
  • Receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program.
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant this year.
  • Experienced a substantial loss of income since Feb. 29, 2020 and the household had a total income below $99,000 for single filers or $198,000 for joint filers in 2020.
  • Qualify for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

How do you apply?

Eligible households can apply a few different ways:

  • Call your local broadband provider of choice to see if they are participating in the Emergency Broadband Benefit and if you might be eligible.
  • Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online directly and to find participating providers near you.
  • Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application, and return it along with copies of documents showing proof of eligibility to:

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

The Emergency Broadband Benefit can often be combined with other programs such as Lifeline, SafeLink or Access from AT&T.