UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students who receive Federal Pell Grants, benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or meet other income-based criteria can soon apply for and receive financial assistance for broadband internet through a new federal program.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit, created by Congress through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and administered through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is intended to support households in securing the technology needed to access work, education and health care remotely during the pandemic. Qualifying households can receive a monthly discount up to $50 on their internet service through participating providers (up to $75 on Tribal lands). Households can also receive up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet.
Students qualify for the program if they or someone in their household meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Qualifies for the Lifeline program by meeting criteria such as participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
- Experienced a substantial loss of income since Feb. 29, 2020;
- Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program; or
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
For the purpose of the program, a “household” is defined as “any individual or group of individuals who are living together at the same address as one economic unit,” according to the FCC’s full program report. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will continue until designated funds are expended.
Students can apply for support through the FCC once the application is live. The FCC has not announced when the application will be live but has indicated that updates will be posted to the program webpage. The Office of Student Aid is following the program closely and will post updates to its website along with Penn State News.
Once the application is live, students who have received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year can access the documentation needed to verify their eligibility through LionPATH, by downloading a PDF of their Aid Award Summary.
The Office of Student Aid is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.