The government has a program to cut your Internet bill. Verizon is using it to force you onto a new
The government has a new program to help Americans pay their Internet bills. Unfortunately, companies like Verizon are twisting it into an opportunity for an upsell.
Last week, I wrote about the arrival of the Emergency Broadband Benefit, or EBB, the largest federal program ever to help people afford Internet access. The EBB can cut $50 off monthly Internet bills and is available to tens of millions of Americans hit economically by the coronavirus pandemic. There’s $3.2 billion up for grabs, until the program ends when money runs out in the months ahead.
All Internet service provider participation in the program is voluntary, and each ISP gets to write some of its own rules for how to hand out the money. Soon after the EBB launched, I started hearing from Washington Post readers about their frustrations signing up with certain ISPs.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/17/verizon-emergency-broadband-benefit/
= new reply since forum marked as read
First let me just say I live in California, I have no idea if this is a national program. Something you'll need to check.
In California, if you are low income Senior, and receive Cal Fresh, (aka Snap, Food Stamps, EBT) you are eligiable to sign up for internet service through a program called AT&T Access.
All you need to do is call this number: 855-220-5211.
Tell the call center, you are requesting the Access application, not available on line.
They'll send you a one page, simple application which you fill out and return with a photo copy of your Cal Fresh card, front and back,
(do this on a copier) Return and in a few days you'll receive an approval with a scheduled delivery/set up.
In my case, the tech came to my house and set up the Wifi router checking to make sure that it functions properly and you are able to connect to your device. (In the case of one of my neighbors, they mailed the router to her, which was unfortunate because she didn't know how to plug in it to her telephone jack, and remained off line for months until I did it for her)
And that's it. They will bill via auto pay and send email notification every billing cycle.
And you never have to re-apply. I do suggest checking your email notifications every now then to make sure there hasn't been any changes to the amount you're being billed. I've been on it for the past five years, and it's never changed. Always exactly $10.00 a month.
While there are occasional momentary "outages" it's rare, EXCEPT during our power outages due Fire Conditions. We'll see how that goes given our drought and heavy wind conditions we're experiencing now.
Oh, I did forget to mention that Comcast has now come up with a similar plan, but they add additional charges, taxes, fees, etc. I'm quite happy with my service with AT&T so far.
Hope this helps! 