The FCC released a Public Notice (DA 21-6) last Monday seeking comments on the implementation of the Emergency Broadband Benefit (“EBB”) program to be established as a part of the recent COVID stimulus legislation (the Consolidate Appropriations Act, 2021). The EBB program, to be administered by the FCC through USAC, will provide discounts on internet services of $50 per month for low income families for the remainder of the COVID emergency period (see our newsletter of December 28th). One-time discounts of up to $100 will also be available on connecting devices (laptops, tablets, etc.). Although the program is not directly related to E‑rate, it promises to provide benefits to schools seeking to assure that all their students have access to reasonably priced internet service to support remote learning during the pandemic.
The FCC will be implementing the EBB program on an accelerated schedule. Last week’s Public Notice sets an initial 20-day comment period (ending January 25th) and another 20-day reply comment period (ending February 16th). Final regulations are due 20 days thereafter. Discounts, once established, will run through the “emergency period” ending six months after the government deems that the COVID crisis has been resolved.
The EBB administrative model proposed by the FCC is similar to, and will rely on, the Lifeline program (currently providing much smaller monthly subsidies to low income families on telephone and internet services). Suppliers, providing the discounted services, can validate household eligibility based on Lifeline’s National Verifier database. Alternatively, suppliers may rely on schools’ NSLP data — an opportunity, assuming confidentiality issues can be resolved, for schools to work collaboratively with supplier providers to make sure that their most needy families receive discounted services.
Requested comments in the Public Notice deal with various aspects of the EBB program including:
- Interpreting the “standard rate” of services subject to the discount
- Verifying household eligibility
- Processing supplier reimbursements
Although the FCC’s Public Notice did not specifically request comments from schools, we believe that it is in the best interest of schools and their students to take a proactive approach to the EBB program’s implementation. This can be achieved by participating in the comment process and, more importantly, reaching out in a collaborative way to local internet providers.