Pallone: Eligible New Jersey Families Can Save on Internet Bills through Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today highlighted the launch of the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program and urged eligible constituents to enroll to receive a discount on their monthly internet bill.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a groundbreaking new program that will help economically vulnerable Americans afford their monthly internet bill. The $3.2 billion program was created as part of the final omnibus appropriations bill in December that Pallone helped author, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that open enrollment in the program began this week.

"From virtual classrooms to telehealth visits, the pandemic has made access to reliable, high-speed internet more important than ever. That's why I fought to include the Emergency Broadband Benefit in last year's omnibus. In this day and age, internet service is a necessity, not a luxury, and ensuring that every family in New Jersey has the ability to telework and stay connected begins with ensuring every family can afford it," said Pallone. "I encourage anyone who may be struggling right now to see if they qualify for this new program, and then sign up by contacting their internet provider. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will continue to work hard to expand internet access and improve affordability so that every household, regardless of zip code, has reliable, high-speed service."

"Citizen Action applauds Congressman Frank Pallone for his leadership in this bi-partisan policy. Broadband services have become a utility upon which all of us depend for essential communication services, from telemedicine, to job hunting, to education, to news distribution and to arts and media," said Beverly Brown Ruggia, Financial Justice Organizer at NJ Citizen Action. "Dependable internet access is vital for families to thrive. With our economy and communities beginning to recover from COVID-19, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program couldn't have come at a more important moment and will deal a great blow to the digital divide in this country."

Households interested in learning whether they qualify are encouraged to visit the FCC's new enrollment website – https://getemergencybroadband.org/ – and then sign up for the program through their internet service provider.

Eligible families can receive:

• Up to a $50/month discount on broadband service and associated equipment rentals
• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)