House Democrats’ Updated Version of The Heroes Act

House Democrats unvieled an updated version of the Heroes Act as a way to revitalize stalled talks over another COVID-19 pandemic relief measure. The $2.2 trillion bill would provide:

• $12 billion to close the homework gap by providing funding for Wi-Fi hotspots and connected devices for students and library patrons, $3 billion for emergency home connectivity, $200 million for telemedicine grants, and $24 million for broadband mapping.
• $500 million to provide health care, including telehealth services to Native Americans, and to purchase medical supplies and personal protective equipment.
• $140 million to expand broadband infrastructure and information technology for telehealth and electronic health records system purposes for Native Americans.
• $175 million to assist public telecommunications entities and maintain programming and services.
• $37 million to support expanded House operations such as tele-town halls, video conferencing, remote hearings, and cybersecurity.
• $6.345 million for Senate teleworking and IT needs as well as funds to supplement daycare operations.

The bill includes an Emergency Benefit for Broadband Service:

• Sec. 301. Benefit for Broadband Service During Emergency Periods Relating to COVID-19. Entitles households in which a member has been laid off or furloughed, among other households that will be eligible, to get a $50 benefit, or a$75 benefit on tribal lands, to put toward the monthly price of internet service during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Internet service providers would be required to provide eligible households service at a price reduced by an amount up to the emergency benefit, and those providers can seek a reimbursement from the FCC for such amount.
• Sec. 302. Enhanced Lifeline Benefits During Emergency Periods. Requires that Lifeline providers make unlimited minutes and unlimited data available to those that rely on the Lifeline program to stay connected to phone or internet service and provides additional support to offset the increase of services, with a minimum subsidy increase to not less than $25 per month.
• Sec. 303. Grants to States to Strengthen National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier. Authorizes funding to help states participate in the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier.

The bill prohibits broadband and telephone providers from terminating service due to a customer’s inability to pay their bill because of financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic or imposing late fees incurred because of hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also prohibits broadband providers from employing data caps or charging customers from going over data caps and requires them to open Wi-Fi hotspots to the public at no cost during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The bill would control the costs for voice and video calls between incarcerated people and their families