Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

North Carolinians can get help to pay for high-speed internet from a $3.2 billion federal program opening in May for families and households working, learning and shopping from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Enrollment in Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP) will open on May 12. Households with an income at or less than 135% of federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the EBBP. A household also qualifies if at least one member participates in a federal benefits program such as Medicaid, SNAP, or Lifeline, receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program, lost a job or a significant amount of income in the past year, received a Federal Pell Grant, or is part of an internet service provider’s low-income or COVID-19 program. 

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households. If eligible, households can receive: 

  • Up to a $50/month discount on your broadband service and associated equipment rentals 
  • Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands 
  • 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) 

Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household.
The program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner. 

Click here for a list of participating providers by state (internet providers).  

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has detailed information on how households can qualify and apply for the program. Visithttps://www.getemergencybroadband.org/ for this information.