Educators’ Role in Promoting Connectivity Benefits
School Administrator, February 2022

Since last May 12, more than 8 million households signed up for the FCC’s temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, the nation’s largest broadband affordability initiative to date.

The program’s success would not be possible without more than 40,000 outreach partners who signed on to spread the word about the Emergency Broadband Benefit. By distributing outreach materials, volunteering to enroll their neighbors and hosting local training sessions, our agency has been able to build trust in a new federal program in record time.

We’re hoping to do the same as the Emergency Broadband Benefit transitions into its new successor program, the Affordable Connectivity Program. Qualifying households can receive up to a $30 discount, and sometimes more, on their monthly internet bill. Eligibility depends on meeting one of the following criteria applied to one member of the household:

»have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines;

»receive WIC benefits;

»receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;

»receive a federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or

»qualify for a participating internet service provider’s low-income program.

Spreading Awareness

School leaders have a role to play in helping the FCC spread awareness about our new broadband affordability program.

The FCC has created shareable materials for organizations and individuals to encourage eligible household enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Educators can visit fcc.gov/ACP to download these materials, print them and customize and distribute them as they see fit. That could mean including these educational flyers in weekly or monthly student take-home packets, requesting an FCC training to host an Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment drive or sharing this information through your school district’s social media networks.

We can make significant progress in closing the digital divide when people learn about worthwhile solutions from trusted community leaders, such as school leaders. If you are interested in learning more about the Affordable Connectivity Program, visit fcc.gov/ACP.

— JESSICA ROSENWORCEL