The National Digital Equity Center is pleased to offer a turn-key solution for local communities that would like to offer a broadband subscription subsidy for low-to-moderate income families. Below is an overview of the program with requirements and responsibilities.
Requirements:
- Internet Service Provider must be enrolled in the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program, https://www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program-providers#Maine.
- Local Community signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Digital Equity Center.
- Internet Service Provider signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Digital Equity Center (NDEC).
Local Community Responsibilities:
- Refer households to FCC Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) application and/or NDEC for assistance in applying for the ACP subsidy.
- Allocate funding for Local Community Broadband Benefit Program. Determine the monthly subsidy per household.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) Responsibilities:
- FCC approval as a participating ACP provider.
- ISP will receive a list from FCC of ACP qualified households.
- ISP will notify qualified households that there is an additional broadband subsidy available and refer the household to NDEC as an approved ACP household.
- Submit annual invoice to NDEC for the household NDEC enrolled in the Local Community Broadband Benefit program, in coordination with NDEC.
NDEC Responsibilities:
- Enroll one member of the household into the NDEC program.
- Offer additional NDEC program services – Affordable Equipment Program and Digital Literacy classes.
- Submit annual invoice to the local community for the households enrolled in the ACP and Local Community Broadband Benefit program.
- NDEC Indirect/Administrative Fee – 10% of allocated funds
- Submit payment (upon receipt of annual invoice from ISP) to ISP for the Local Community Broadband Benefit subsidies.
- Provide reports to the local community that include the demographics of the households participating in the Local Community Benefit program, as well as the Affordable Broadband Equipment program, and digital literacy class participation.
Benefits:
- Provides a turn-key solution for low-to-moderate income homes for digital inclusion that includes affordable broadband, affordable equipment, and digital literacy training.
- Protects the privacy of the household applying for ACP and Local Community Broadband Benefit subsidy.
- Prevents fraudulent enrollment for ACP and Local Community Broadband Benefit funds.
- Captures aggregate local data.
If you would like to start the conversation around creating a Local Broadband Benefit for your community, please contact Susan Corbett at susan@digitalequitycenter.org or call (207) 259-5010.