Federal Pell Grant recipients are one of several groups of individuals who qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.

This Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying households. Eligible applicants may qualify to receive substantially subsidized broadband service ($50 monthly subsidy for most, $75 monthly subsidy for those on tribal lands) and devices ($100 one-time subsidy for a device).

The FCC has announced that consumers can begin applying for and enrolling in the Emergency Broadcast Benefit Program on May 12, 2021. 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 comes first.

Access a full list of eligibility criteria at getemergencybroadband.org/do-i-qualify/.

The agency is urging students to familiarize themselves with the registration process as well as required documentation so that, come May 12, they’ll be able to enroll and work through the FCC verification process as soon as the program is live.