SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, divisions of the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement, the Utah State Board of Education and Utah Communities Connect recently announced their joint efforts to help build consumer awareness about the Emergency Broadband Benefit, a new Federal Communications Commission program.
According to a press release from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the temporary benefit will help to lower the cost of broadband service for certain eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Broadband internet is vital for Utahns’ economic well-being, including participation in and access to online work, school, healthcare, and other essential services,” Dan Hemmert, GOED’s executive director, said in the release. “We know there are households that need to connect to the internet for essential services but can’t afford it. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will help to ensure every household in Utah has access to the benefits of online connection as we complete our pandemic recovery.”
The $3.2 billion program provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying tribal lands.
Additionally, the benefit provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet if the household contributes $10-$50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider.
Eligible households must include a member that meets one of the criteria below:
- Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in specific assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid or the FCC’s Lifeline program.
- Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year.
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.
- Experienced a substantial loss of income through job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers.
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development and its partners in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program realize the benefit is critical to ensuring as many Utah households are connected to broadband as possible.
“This program extends a low-cost opportunity for internet and computing devices to households who may not have qualified for previous programs like Lifeline,” Utah State Librarian Chaundra Johnson said in the press release. “The Utah State Library urges community partners to spread the word and make sure Utah’s most vulnerable populations have a chance to participate in this unique discount program.”
Additionally, this program will provide financial relief to historically underserved communities navigating increasingly digital spaces.
“The full use of digital tools and technology is imperative to a thriving and equitable society for multicultural communities and families in Utah,” said Nubia Peña, director of the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs.
Dr. Sydnee Dickson, superintendent of the Utah State Board of Education, said broadband should be treated as “an essential utility, like electricity, to bridge the digital divide and resulting knowledge gap for families.”
Informational materials have been created by the organizations and will be available for statewide distribution. Visit GOED’s Emergency Broadband Benefit webpage for information about how to apply for the program.
Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at online or by calling 833-511-0311 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. EDT any day of the week.
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