ENID, Okla. — Households with students who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches also will automatically qualify for a new federal program that would temporarily lower broadband internet service costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enid Public Schools officials said the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program would replace the district’s current — and free — service providing one mobile Wi-Fi hot spot each to EPS households.
Enrollment begins next Wednesday for the Federal Communication Commission’s $3.2 billion program.
Qualifying households can receive a discount of up to $50 a month through their participating broadband provider — or up to $75 per month for households on qualifying tribal lands. Qualifying service providers will receive the funds directly from the benefit program, according to the FCC.
The EBB program also provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a broadband provider.
The EBB program is temporary, lasting until six months after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares the COVID-19 pandemic is over or if the program runs out of money — whichever is sooner, according to the Universal Administrative…
