FCC February 2021 Open Meeting Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Overview Federal Communications Commission Wireline Competition Bureau Telecommunications Access Policy Division February 17, 2021 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Overview February 17, 2021 Overview " On December 27, 2020, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (the Act) into law. " The Act, among other changes, established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to support broadband service and equipment for low- income households. 2 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Overview February 17, 2021 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Provisions " Funding. The Act establishes a $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund and directs the FCC to use that Fund to create the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP). " Participating Providers. Providers must elect to participate in EBBP. - Eligible telecommunications carriers that currently participate in the Lifeline program may participate in EBBP. - Other broadband providers that had a low-income program as of April 1, 2020 may receive automatic approval from the FCC. - All other broadband providers may seek expedited approval from the FCC to participate. 3 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Overview February 17, 2021 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Provisions " Broadband Service. The EBBP benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month on broadband service and associated equipment provided to low-income households. - On Tribal lands, the discount increases to up to $75 per month. - Participating providers receive reimbursement for providing discounts to eligible low-income households. " Connected Devices. EBBP will support a one-time discount of up to $100 off the price of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. - Household must pay between $10 and $50 toward the price of the device. 4 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Overview February 17, 2021 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Provisions " Eligible Households. A household may qualify for the EBBP benefit if at least one member of the household: - Meets the qualifications for Lifeline; - Has been approved to receive benefits from the free and reduced price lunch program or school breakfast program; - Has experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020; - Has received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year; or - Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider s existing low-income or COVID-19 program. 5 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Overview February 17, 2021 Implementation " Administration. - FCC will be using the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to administer the EBBP 8šUSAC operates the Lifeline National Verifier and National Lifeline Accountability Database, which the FCC will leverage for eligibility verifications and reimbursement processing. - FCC may apply existing Lifeline program rules to the EBBP 6 Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Overview February 17, 2021 Next Steps Comment Public Notice Comments EBBP Roundtable Reply Comments Order 7