Congress recently created the Affordable Connectivity Program, a long-term, $14 billion program, which replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. This investment in broadband affordability will help ensure we can afford the internet connections we need for work, school, health care and more for a long time. NeuBeam is a participating provider in this FCC program.

The benefit will provide a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. NeuBeam will also offer to eligible households a one-time discounted desktop computer for $20.00, or a laptop for $49.99, while supplies last.

The ACP Program will be limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines;
• Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, or Lifeline;
• Participates in a Lifeline-qualifying government program;
• Participates in the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC);
• Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program.

See the steps below.

Maryland has launched Connect Maryland, a transformative new initiative to supercharge the State of Maryland’s broadband investment with a total new investment of $400 million to fully address the digital divide. To receive assistance, Maryland households must already be approved for service under the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. The Maryland EBB Program offers an additional $15/month.

Consumers who are enrolled in the EBB Program as of December 31, 2021, will have a 60-day transition period where they continue to receive their full EBB Program monthly $50 benefit before moving to the reduced ACP benefit of $30 per month. You do not have to take any action to continue to receive your benefit at the current level during the 60-day transition period.

During the transition period, EBB subscribers that qualified for the EBB Program under the “substantial loss of income due to a job loss or furlough” will need to confirm their eligibility to qualify for the ACP. Under the new rules, subscribers who qualified through this eligibility criteria who are unable to demonstrate their eligibility for the ACP will be de-enrolled at the end of the 60-day transition period. If you fall into this category, we will further contact you.