Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Reading through many of the posts in this forum, there are some here that are struggling and may benefit, albeit temporarily, by this. Sign up begins May 12.
"If your household is eligible, you can receive:
Up to a $50/month discount on your broadband service and associated equipment rentals
Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)
Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household.
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 is sooner."
Article today in the Post about Verizon and AT&T using this benefit to make people sign up for a more expensive plan that will cost them more when the $50 benefit expires or runs out of money.
Well, it's a day late and a dollar short, but when the schools closed, they continued operating on the assumption that EVERY student lived in a house with broadband access (and a computer and a responsible adult on the premises 24/7...). Not all did- some didn't have it available and some did but couldn't afford it.
My issue with this provision is that one factor that gets you qualified is if your kid is on free or reduced-price lunches. Many schools, maybe because of the demographics, are eligible to sign up every student without looking at individual needs. So, some students who are already getting meals their parents could afford to provide are now getting a break on broadband their parents could already pay for.
Well, it's a day late and a dollar short, but when the schools closed, they continued operating on the assumption that EVERY student lived in a house with broadband access (and a computer and a responsible adult on the premises 24/7...). Not all did- some didn't have it available and some did but couldn't afford it.
My issue with this provision is that one factor that gets you qualified is if your kid is on free or reduced-price lunches. Many schools, maybe because of the demographics, are eligible to sign up every student without looking at individual needs. So, some students who are already getting meals their parents could afford to provide are now getting a break on broadband their parents could already pay for.
Actually it says that the student has to be eligible for free and reduced lunch. My grandchildren go to a school where everyone gets free breakfast. However, they do not qualify for this benefit nor could they receive the internet subsidy.
Reading through many of the posts in this forum, there are some here that are struggling and may benefit, albeit temporarily, by this. Sign up begins May 12.
I followed the link, spoke with our local telephone company, then went back to file the application. Ten steps into the process and I discovered that I earn $500 a year too much to qualify.
Well, it's a day late and a dollar short, but when the schools closed, they continued operating on the assumption that EVERY student lived in a house with broadband access (and a computer and a responsible adult on the premises 24/7...). Not all did- some didn't have it available and some did but couldn't afford it.
Since this was posted in the Retirement forum, I would have to question how beneficial this really would be to retirees who already qualify for the existing low-income/low-cost/lower-speed service. Retirees are probably less likely to need a higher-speed tier than a work-from-home & online school household, where bandwidth needs are higher.
It's only temporary relief anyway, as opposed to the existing program, which is indefinite. Schools around here have mostly returned to normal in-person classes, and most workers who were temporarily working from home have been called back to the office.
Looking at the process and speaking with our local phone company it appears the program works even if all you have for inter-web access is dial-up phone lines, like what we have.
I had assumed that since we qualify for food stamps that maybe we would qualify for this too. But I was wrong. I am simply too wealthy.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
