Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Expand Emergency Broadband Benefit Access

Sixteen Senate Democrats introduced new legislation building on the Emergency Broadband Connections Act to ensure working families can stay online through the current economic and health crisis. The new legislation would authorize an additional $6 billion for the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, to accommodate high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. That program provides $50 per month benefit to workers who have been laid off or furloughed during the pandemic and $75 per month on Tribal lands, along with a range of other assistance to ensure families can access critical online services. Broadband connections are essential for Americans seeking to get new jobs, and to access school, health care, and other government services. The bill also speeds up benefit approvals by providing funding to help states participate in the National Lifeline Eligibility verifier and requiring the Federal Communications Commission to coordinate with the US Department of Agriculture to set up automated connections between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Senators supporting the bill include Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Patty Murray (D-WA). The bill was also included in Democrats’ comprehensive legislation to expand affordable internet access.