Nearly 17 million school children lack internet access at home, creating a nationwide Homework Gap that left unsolved could be become an opportunity gap. Chairwoman Rosenworcel, who coined the term Homework Gap, has long advocated for programs to support students left offline because they can’t access or afford broadband services. Now, the FCC is working on two major programs to provide help to these communities.
Emergency Broadband Benefit
The Commission launched the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit, the first and largest program in the U.S. to address broadband affordability. The new benefit is connecting eligible households to jobs, critical health care services, virtual classrooms, and other essential resources. The temporary program provides a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Commission launched the Affordable Connectivity Program on December 31, 2021 as a successor program to the EBB to help ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Helping Close the Homework Gap
The $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund helps schools and libraries close the Homework Gap by providing funding for the reasonable costs of laptop and tablet computers; Wi-Fi hotspots; modems; routers; and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
News
July 27, 2022 - News Release
FCC Announces $77 Million In Emergency Connectivity Funding
February 23, 2022 - News Release
FCC Commits Another $86M in Emergency Connectivity Funding
January 10, 2022 - News Release
FCC Commits Over $361 Million In Additional Emergency Connectivity Fund Support To Connect Schools And Libraries
December 31, 2021 - News Release
FCC Launches Affordable Connectivity Program
December 20, 2021 - News Release
FCC Commits Nearly $603M in Additional Emergency Connectivity Fund Support
November 23, 2021 - News Release
FCC Commits Over $169 Million in Additional Emergency Connectivity Fund Support
November 8, 2021 - News Release
FCC Commits Over $421 Million In Additional Funding Through Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
October 25, 2021 - News Release
FCC Announces Nearly $1.3 Billion In Funding Requests Received In Emergency Connectivity Fund Program Second Application Filing Window
October 12, 2021 - News Release
FCC Commits Over $1.1 Billion In Second Funding Wave Of Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, Funding Over 2.4 Million Devices And 1.9 Million Broadband Connections
September 28, 2021 - News Release
FCC Opens Second Filing Window For Emergency Connectivity Fund To Help Close Homework Gap
September 28, 2021 - News Release
More than 6 Million Households Enroll in Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
September 24, 2021 - News Release
FCC Commits Over $1.2 Billion In First Funding Wave Of Emergency Connectivity Fund Program To Connect Over 3.6 Million Students
August 27, 2021 - News Release
Five Million Households Enrolled In Broadband Discount Program
August 25, 2021 - News Release
FCC Announces Over $5 Billion In Funding Requests Received In Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
August 11, 2021 - News Release
FCC Reminds Schools & Libraries: Emergency Connectivity Fund Window Closes In 48 Hours
July 28, 2021 - News Release
FCC Enrolls Over 4 Million Households In Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
July 22, 2021 - Public Notice
Emergency Connectivity Fund Service Delivery Deadline Public Notice
June 29, 2021 - News Release
FCC Announces Release of Regional EBB Data
June 29, 2021 - News Release
Rosenworcel Keynote Remarks to New America Pell Grant EBB Event
June 29, 2021 - News Release
FCC Launches Emergency Connectivity Fund
June 15, 2021 - News Release
Emergency Connectivity Fund Application Window Opens June 29
June 7, 2021 - News Release
2.3M Households Sign Up for Emergency Broadband Benefit
May 20, 2021 - News Release
Over One Million Households Enroll for Emergency Broadband Benefit
May 12, 2021 - News Release
Emergency Broadband Benefit Starts Today
May 11, 2021 - News Release
FCC to Launch $7.17 Billion Connectivity Fund Program
May 10, 2021 - News Release
Fact Sheet on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
April 30, 2021 - News Release
Rosenworcel Unveils Proposed Rules for Emergency Connectivity Fund
April 29, 2021 - News Release
FCC Shares Start Date of Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
April 19, 2021 - News Release
FCC Begins Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Testing
March 11, 2021 - News Release
Rosenworcel Hails American Rescue Plan Funds to Close Homework Gap
February 22, 2021 - News Release
Rosenworcel Proposes Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Rules
February 11, 2021 - News Release
FCC Seeks Outreach Partners for Emergency Broadband Benefit
January 28, 2021 - News Release
FCC Announces Roundtable on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Events
June 25, 2021
Emergency Connectivity Fund Program Overview Webinar
June 22, 2021
Virtual Tribal Listening Session On Emergency Broadband Benefit
April 27, 2021
Emergency Broadband Benefit Webinar for Consumers and Outreach Partners
February 12, 2021
Roundtable on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program