The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a federal benefit that ensures that qualifying consumers have access to high-quality internet services. Cal.net has been authorized to provide the Emergency Broadband Benefit to qualifying customers to our service areas in California. This means that if you are eligible, you can receive internet at a reduced rate of:

• Up to $50 off monthly internet for eligible households
• Up to $75 off monthly internet for tribal lands
• One-time discount of $100 towards a laptop, desktop, or tablet from participating internet providers, contingent upon their contribution of $10 to $50 toward purchase.

There are 3 ways you can apply:

Option 1:  Apply with a service provider 

• The consumer visits a service provider.

• The service provider will get the consumer’s consent to enter the consumer’s information into the National Verifier service provider portal.

• This is an in-person interaction, where the service provider asks the consumer questions in an interview style approach.

Option 2: Apply online

• The consumer visits the National Verifier from any computer or mobile device to complete the electronic application
• The consumer contacts a service provider to enroll in the EBB Program.

Option 3: Apply by Mail

• The consumer fills out and signs the National Verifier EBB Application Form 
• The consumer mails the application and supporting documentation to the Emergency Broadband Support Center
• Service providers may assist consumers with the paper application and mail it on the consumer’s behalf.

The National Verifier will use the consumer’s information to perform the following automated checks: 

• Eligibility check 
• Identity check 
• Address check 
• Duplicate subscriber check 
• Duplicate address check 
• Tribal eligibility check 

If any of these checks return errors, the consumer will be directed to either resolve the error in the portal or to provide documents.

Yes. The federal government has implemented a variety of restrictions to help ensure that only qualifying consumers obtain the Emergency Broadband Benefit.

One Benefit Per Household 

Only one Emergency Broadband Benefit service is available per “household.”  (A “household” means “any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses as one economic unit.”)  A “household” is not permitted to receive the Emergency Broadband Benefit from multiple providers. Violation of the one-per-household limitation constitutes a violation of the federal regulations and will result in disenrollment from the program.

Proof of Eligibility 

When applying for Emergency Broadband Benefit service, applicants must provide documentation demonstrating that they are eligible. More information can be found in the eligibility requirements.

Loss of Eligibility

An Emergency Broadband Benefit customer must notify Cal.net within 30 days if he or she is no longer eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit service for any reason.  (For example, a customer may no longer be eligible if he or she no longer participates in a qualifying low-income program, if he or she no longer meets the low-income thresholds, or if he or she or a member of the household receives another Emergency Broadband Benefit service.)

Change of Address 

An Emergency Broadband Benefit customer must notify Cal.net within 30 days if he or she moves to a new residential address.

Certification Under Penalty of Perjury. Emergency Broadband Benefit applicants must certify under penalty of perjury that the information contained on their application forms is true and correct to the best of their knowledge.

Recertification

Emergency Broadband Benefit customers must recertify their eligibility on an annual basis and may be asked to recertify more frequently.  Failure to recertify will result in de-enrollment from the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.

Non-Transferable

The Emergency Broadband Benefit service cannot be transferred from one individual to another.

Consent to Provide Information to the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program administrator.  All Emergency Broadband Benefit applicants must permit Cal.net to provide the customer’s name, telephone number, date of birth, and last four digits of social security number to the Universal Service Administrative Company (and/or its agents) for the purpose of verifying that the subscriber does not receive more than one Emergency Broadband Benefit package.  USAC is the company that administers the Emergency Broadband Benefit program on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a federal program that ensures qualifying customers have access to high-quality internet services. 

Cal.net’s eligible Wireless Internet plan features: 

• Prices that start at less than $50/month
• No Data Caps
• No Throttling
• No Contracts