COVID-19 has hit the Bronx, hard.
But there's help!
The resources below can help students, business owners, and everyone in the community
#BronxReliefEffort
Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Quick Links:
Call 833-511-0311 for more information on the program and for help setting up
Go to getemergencybroadband.org to apply for eligibility and find a local Internet provider
In the Bronx, you can also call your current provider or visit their website to sign up
You can also call your Congressional representative for help signing up:
Congressman Bowman’s office: (718)530-7710
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez’s office (718-662-5970)
Congressman Espaillat’s office (646-740-3632)
Congressman Torres' office (718-503-9610)
What is the Emergency Broadband Benefit?
The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program was created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The benefit will provide the following discounts:
Up to $50 per month discount for broadband service for eligible households
In some cases, a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a single laptop, desktop computer or tablet
Internet Providers in the Bronx participating in EBB
Parents of school-aged children can prove eligibility by showing proof of:
Child’s school ID with the child’s first and last names
Report card with the child’s first and last names
Correspondence from the school with the child’s first and last names
Verizon (via Mobile, FIOS or 5G Home)
Why is broadband at home important?
Broadband offers faster speeds when you are using the Internet. Having broadband Internet access in your home allows you to participate more fully in day-to-day activities like video conferencing, remote learning activities, tele-health visits, and accessing streaming and gaming services.
The Bronx is the borough with the highest percentage of residents without home broadband, at almost 38%. The EBB is a short-term solution for helping more people access broadband, but we will need to work together to increase access for the long term. We have come together as the Bronx Digital Equity Coalition over the past year to help lift up community-based solutions to make sure everyone in the Bronx has access to high-speed, quality Internet, an appropriate device, and digital literacy and tech support. Find out more about how to join us below.
Who is eligible?
Your household is eligible if you or another member of the household meet at least one of the criteria below:
Qualifies for the FCC's existing Lifeline program
Attends a Title I school
Lost employment or experienced a substantial loss of income since Feb. 29, 2020
Is a student who receives a Federal Pell Grant
Meets the eligibility criteria for your participating internet provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program
You don't need to be a US Citizen and you don't have to share a Social Security Number.
Check your eligibility at: getemergencybroadband.org/do-i-qualify
How do I apply?
Contact your preferred participating provider directly to learn about their application process.
Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to submit an application and to find participating providers near you.
Complete a mail-in application and send it along with proof of eligibility to:
Emergency Broadband Support Center P.O. Box 7081 London, KY 40742
For information about how to apply, call 833.511.0311 or visit getemergencybroadband.org/how-to-apply
How can my organization help people sign up?
Spread the word about the Emergency Broadband Benefit via flyers, social media, and word of mouth.
Share this image on social media in English and Spanish - feel free to add your logos and any hashtags like #BronxDigitalEquity or #BroadbandforAll
There are more outreach materials and templates available here on the FCC's website.
Even more resources and templates here:
The Leadership Council
Spanish Launch Toolkit: https://bit.ly/EBBConectate
English Launch Toolkit: https://bit.ly/GetConnectedEBB
https://www.ebbhelp.org/ from Media Justice
Learn how to help community members prove eligibility and sign up
Here is a webinar showing how to sign up using the USAC system.
Set up a pop-up sign-up station at your location with support for verifying eligibility and navigating sign-up systems online.
How can I advocate for digital equity in the Bronx?
While the Emergency Broadband Benefit is a helpful short-term solution for our communities - it will not being digital equity to the Bronx. Digital equity is defined by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance as "the condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy." The digital divide has existed in the Bronx for far too long. It is time for a borough of nearly 1.5 million people to be heard and come together to make sure all Bronxites are connected and have equitable access to the tools, services and information that help us in our daily lives and to prepare for the future.
Here are a few actions you can take to advance digital equity:
Talk to your elected officials about your experience with accessing affordable at-home broadband, computers for work or school, and tech training programs or digital literacy support in the Bronx. Ask them to advocate for more funding for local community networks, training for digital stewards and navigators, and inclusion of community members in funding decisions.
Demand that private Internet Service Providers are held accountable to customers including offering affordable access to broadband to all and protecting their customers' data and security.
Join the Bronx Digital Equity Coalition by signing up on the Google Form below.