Trenton, Tenn.–Gibson Connect, a wholly-owned not-for-profit subsidiary of Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, is partnering with the Federal Communications Commission to offer the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. This temporary FCC program, which launched May 12, will help households struggling to pay for internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We know many of our member families are struggling and desperately need internet service for work, school, telehealth services and connecting digitally with loved ones,” said Dan Rodamaker, President and CEO of Gibson EMC and Gibson Connect. “After the EBB Program discount is applied, Gibson Connect’s 250 Mbps Internet service is free and its 1 Gbps (1 Gig) Internet service is just $19.95/month,” he said.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will provide up to $50 dollars per month toward broadband service for eligible households. A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Qualifies for the Lifeline program;
- Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year;
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers’ existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
To determine if you qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, go to www.getemergencybroadband.org or call Gibson Connect at 731-562-1210.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a temporary program that expires when funds are depleted or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declares the end of the COVID-19 health emergency (whichever comes first).
Gibson EMC is a local, not-for-profit, member-owned and member-controlled electric cooperative serving 39,000 homes and businesses in eight west Tennessee counties (Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion and Madison) and four west Kentucky counties (Carlisle, Fulton, Graves and Hickman). Gibson Connect is a wholly-owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of Gibson EMC, working to provide high-speed, fiber-based broadband service access to the cooperative’s members.