<div dir="auto">Please distribute this information as you feel appropriate. This is not a new program, but it is definitely worth promoting in our region. I am happy to provide some assistance if you need It.<div dir="auto">.</div><div dir="auto">Best,</div><div dir="auto">Nan Rubin</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Kevin Taglang</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:headlines@benton.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">headlines@benton.org</a>></span><br>Date: Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 5:55 AM<br>Subject: 1–2–3 Low Cost Internet!<br>To: <<a href="mailto:rubinnan@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">rubinnan@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div>
<a href="https://www.benton.org/blog/1-2-3-low-cost-internet?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">
Click here to view this message on the web. </a>
</div>
<div>
<h2>1–2–3 Low Cost Internet!</h2>
<div><div><div><div style="width:100%;max-width:1370px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">
<div style="text-align:center;padding:2em 0;margin:0 auto"><a href="https://benton.org?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><img alt="Benton Institute for Broadband & Society" src="https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/benton_2.png" style="width:300px"></a></div>
<div style="width:100%;max-width:1000px;background-color:#ffffff;margin:1em auto 2em;padding:15px 0">
<div style="text-align:center">
<p>Monday, June 13, 2022</p>
<h2 style="border-bottom:1px solid black;padding-bottom:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size: 33px;color: #231f20">Digital Beat</h2>
<h1 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170cb79">1–2–3 Low Cost Internet!</h1>
</div>
<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry" height="150" src="https://www.benton.org//sites/default/files/2021/love.png" width="600"></p>
<p id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170b49f">The United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry teamed up with our civil rights allies in 2021 and successfully persuaded Congress to adopt a new program that helps low-income households pay for high-speed internet. Now that Congress has acted, our biggest challenge is publicizing the program. Families and individuals need to hear from trusted members of their own communities to learn more — people like you! Learn more about the new Affordable Connectivity Program and how you can help.</p>
<p id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170d5ab">We were so excited to spread the word about this program at the United Church of Christ’s weekly Thursdays for the Soul webinar series, you can get caught up quickly by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBckobYqGdg&utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">watching the recording</a> and downloading our <a href="https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6587/images/Love%20Your%20Neighbors%20Get%20Them%20Internet%20Toolkit%20June%202022.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">toolkit</a>.</p>
<h2 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170637a">What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?</h2>
<p id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170af52">The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal program designed to help low-income households pay for broadband internet service. Once an eligible household completes an application and is approved, it will receive a discount of up to $30 per month off its bill for mobile or home broadband internet services (up to $75 per month for households on tribal lands). The federal funds go directly to the service provider to cover the discount. In some cases, the subsidy will completely cover the cost of the internet service.</p>
<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="Boy using a computer at home." height="417" src="https://www.benton.org//sites/default/files/2021/boy_computer.jpeg" width="625"></p>
<h2 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170521b">Who Is Eligible?</h2>
<p id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170d96d">You are eligible for ACP if <em>anyone in your household</em>:</p>
<ul>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591707d4f">Receives certain income-based federal benefits such as <strong>SNAP</strong> (food stamps), <strong>Supplemental Security Income (SSI),</strong> federal <strong>public housing</strong> assistance or <strong>Medicaid </strong>benefits;</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591701263">Receives Women’s Infants and Children (<strong>WIC</strong>) nutrition program benefits or qualifies for the <strong>free and reduced-price school lunch</strong> or breakfast programs;</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-193684633419635917073b4">Received a federal <strong>Pell Grant</strong> during the current school year;</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170a7c6">Participates in other programs, including <a href="https://acpbenefit.org/do-i-qualify/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters#other-programs" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">tribal and veterans programs</a>. Call the FCC at 877–384–2575 or visit <a href="http://www.getinternet.gov/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">www.getinternet.gov</a> to find out if you are eligible.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="Save up to $30/month on your internet bill" height="218" src="https://www.benton.org//sites/default/files/2021/30_month.png" width="600"></p>
<h2 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170d00b">How Can I Apply?</h2>
<ul>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170a868">Call 877–384–2575 to request an application or to get more information, or go directly to <a href="https://acpbenefit.org/?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">ACPBenefit.org</a> to apply.</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591707191">Work with your local internet company to apply — major companies like <a href="https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/acp?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">Comcast</a> (Xfinity), <a href="https://www.spectrum.com/cp/broadband-get-qualified?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">Charter</a> (Spectrum), <a href="https://www.att.com/help/affordable-connectivity-program/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">AT&T</a>, <a href="https://www.verizon.com/home/promo/affordable-connectivity-program/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">Verizon</a> and <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/offers/t-mobile-brings-the-federal-affordable-connectivity-program-to-more-customers-with-free-wireless-service-at-metro-by-t-mobile?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">T-Mobile</a> are participating and can help you get connected. Find more participating providers at <a href="https://acpbenefit.org/companies-near-me/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">https://acpbenefit.org/companies-near-me/</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591707dce">What Else Should I Know?</h2>
<ul>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591707d16">Owing money to your provider does not prevent you from participating. A company cannot use a credit check to keep you out of the basic ACP program.</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170b521">You can choose any product the company offers or you can apply the discount to your existing plan.</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591709439">You do not have to pay any early-termination fees.</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-193684633419635917025ee">You can keep your service even if you are up to 90 days late in paying a bill.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="Thursdays for the Soul webinar." height="333" src="https://www.benton.org//sites/default/files/2021/webinar.png" width="600"></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h1 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170e11a"><strong>Spread the Word!</strong></h1>
<p id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591705913">UCC Media Justice is encouraging UCC churches, conferences, associations and individual members — and our friends throughout the faith and humanitarian communities — to help spread the word by distributing and posting the flyer found at the end of this blog. The flyer includes the phone numbers of government staff members who can help households sign up. <em>If you take these steps, let us know! Post on social media using #GetInternet or #UCCMediaJustice or </em><a href="mailto:cleanza@alhmail.com?subject=**ACP%20activity%20report!" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>email us</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<h3 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170c0a1">1. Share copies of the flyer through direct service projects or with other organizations who serve low-income people.</h3>
<ul>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591708419">Does your church run a soup kitchen? Hand out copies at dinner. Do you volunteer at a food pantry? Put copies of the flyer in bags of groceries. Volunteering at a community event or homeless shelter? Bring flyers and help people understand what the program is about.</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170cdc5">Support interested people in person by helping them with your phone or computer to go online to apply or to learn more.</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-19368463341963591706d7c">Distribute the flyers at your church or community events, or post them on local bulletin boards.</li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170384c">Are you raising funds for a local group or people in need? Ask if you can also send along copies of flyers for them to distribute.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170c8ed">2. Use these outreach resources to share this program with others. These include social media, newsletter articles, additional flyers and more.</h3>
<ul>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-193684633419635917084a4"><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/acp-consumer-outreach-toolkit?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">Federal Communications Commission</a></li>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170dbc4"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QSurfK-T3nqD-pCH732WAdSBO7tFDlno0eTY_BUqo8c/edit?usp=sharing&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170ff8b">3. Take the next step and host a meeting, discussion, or outreach session.</h3>
<ul>
<li id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170533c">You can send an email to invite speakers from <a href="mailto:cleanza@alhmail.com?subject=**ACP%20Speaker%20request**" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">UCC Media Justice</a>, the <a href="mailto:ACPspeakers@fcc.gov%20%3cACPspeakers@fcc.gov%3e;?subject=ACP%20speaker%20request" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">Federal Communications Commission</a> or your local community. For example, libraries, schools or members of the <a href="https://www.digitalinclusion.org/affiliates/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">National Digital Inclusion Alliance</a> may have someone local to come and speak about digital literacy and the ACP.</li>
</ul>
<p id="m_-2643494108922876181m_-1936846334196359170ea89">Download a copy of the<a href="https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6587/images/Love%20Your%20Neighbors%20Get%20Them%20Internet%20Toolkit%20June%202022.pdf?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noopener ugc nofollow noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"> UCC Love Your Neighbors: Get Them Internet toolkit.</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>This article <a href="https://uccmediajustice.medium.com/1-2-3-low-cost-internet-76ec4298a28a?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">originally appeared on Medium</a>. It is reprinted here with permission of the <a href="http://www.uccmediajustice.org/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry</a></em></p>
<p><br>
</p></div>
<div style="width:95%;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto;padding:0">
<p style="font-size:10px">The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.</p>
<hr>
<p style="font-size:10px">© Benton Institute for Broadband & Society 2022. Redistribution of this email publication - both internally and externally - is encouraged if it includes this copyright statement.</p>
<hr>
<p style="font-size:10px">For subscribe/unsubscribe info, please email headlinesATbentonDOTorg</p>
<div style="font-size:10px;text-align:center;padding-bottom:2em"><img alt="Kevin Taglang" src="https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/kevin-taglang-small.png" style="width:75px;height:auto;margin-bottom:25px">
<p>Kevin Taglang<br>
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines<br>
Benton Institute<br>
for Broadband & Society<br>
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214<br>
Wilmette, IL 60091<br>
847-328-3040<br>
headlines AT benton DOT org</p>
<div style="margin:15px auto">
<p>Share this edition:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A//benton.org/node/[nid]&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><img alt="Benton Institute for Broadband & Society" src="https://www.benton.org/sites/all/themes/benton_foundation/images/facebook.png" style="width:32px;height:auto"></a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http%3A//benton.org/node/[nid]&title=Read%20the%20latest%20Benton.org%20newsletter&summary=&source=Benton.org&utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><img alt="Benton Institute for Broadband & Society" src="https://www.benton.org/sites/all/themes/benton_foundation/images/linkedin.png" style="width:32px;height:auto"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/home?status=Read%20the%20latest%20Benton.org%20newsletter%20at%20http%3A//benton.org/node/[nid]&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><img alt="Benton Institute for Broadband & Society" src="https://www.benton.org/sites/all/themes/benton_foundation/images/twitter.png" style="width:32px;height:auto"></a></p>
<p><img alt="Benton Institute for Broadband & Society" src="https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/benton_2.png" style="width:200px;height:auto"></p>
<p>Broadband Delivers Opportunities and Strengthens Communities</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
<p><a href="https://www.benton.org/newsletter/confirm/remove/d56bef0a942840t17360?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">Unsubscribe from this newsletter</a></p>
</div>
<img src="http://em.benton.org/wf/open?upn=8B6tAYQWe4wwmFQ6cOCpmBuFcNlaf4xKnera3JW21Jna-2BaaTsJWThE8AK99bOu-2BKbSB9OrIZYckBRgQG2RZNWqifMxEyeXZqSNu6ZrkJ-2FUjIZ-2B7Mtq-2BQLRFR4eqsILjLhfDh1tKKOaq2owu-2FaFVCSktfzEHGRtNnXTVbFwMmWV0IVEQ28HCtBVtT5Z9fYBycqmJMSF6R-2FAm2RGBBAXrk-2BgxYtgxxEnkOP2vcyvwmSMdbwMaPHcg7XVEbIjXwWk3n0rP4tvYvcyp20Yc4-2FzrsvjNwWRSXQHZ7RJkk-2BNlaX5X5NUluj8KVXYFILJIW5LAagEPUoGcPWwXfvXnrM62nk7YYaB9-2BSrhufxipC2ZLjwY4cIM4SqmWkFDSKj8BRPV-2FKOBYZeZFVRfW47Bh9ZVkd2dVUgNg8IeMFcJpp-2Byt-2Fpg-3D" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" style="height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important"></div>