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Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Overview
A California Libraries Learn Webinar
Start time: 11 AM Pacific, 12 PM Mountain, 1 PM Central, 2 PM Eastern
Presenters: Laura Sasaki – Broadband Program Manager and E-rate Coordinator, California State Library; Renee Coles – EBB Subject Matter Expert, Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Justin Lai - Office of Digital Innovation
This webinar is intended to give an overview of the The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. This will include who is eligible, and what documentation applicants need to sign up for the program. Additionally, the presenters will provide resources for libraries to provide to patrons who might need assistance signing up for the benefit program. The presentation will be approximately 45 minutes with an additional 15 minutes for questions.
Background: In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress appropriated $3.2 billion to the FCC to help low-income households pay for broadband service and connected internet devices. The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program provides a discount of up to $50 per month for broadband services for eligible consumers. Consumers who live on qualifying Tribal lands can receive enhanced support of up to $75 per month toward broadband services. The program also provides a one-time device discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider. The one-time discount requires a consumer co-payment of more than $10 and less than $50.The Emergency Broadband Benefit is temporary and will expire when funds are exhausted, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declares the end of the COVID-19 health emergency.
This event is sponsored by California Libraries Learn. California Libraries Learn (CALL) is a collaborative project of the California Library Association and the California State Library, and is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.