EASY Wireless announced it is working to help build consumer awareness about the Emergency Broadband Benefit, a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program.

This temporary benefit program is designed to help families and households struggling to afford Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will allow eligible households to connect to jobs, critical healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and so much more.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit program combined with the Lifeline Benefit program provides eligible households with free monthly mobile phone service featuring unlimited talk, text & data, as well as a free 8-inch Android tablet with unlimited hotspot.

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 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid or the FCC’s Lifeline Benefit program; 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 or 2020-2021 school year;

Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;

Experienced a substantial loss of income through job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or

Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Emergency Broadband Benefit enrollment will begin on May 12, 2021. Eligible households can enroll by visiting any Easy Wireless location throughout the state of Oklahoma, through the self-enrollment portal on MyEasyWireless.com, or by calling 888.792.0076.

Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, or by calling 833-511-0311 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. any day of the week.