The FCC said that starting Wednesdayqualifying households would be able to apply for the benefit.

Eligible households living on tribal lands can get a subsidy of up to $75 per month.

Locating local internet providers

The subsidies are part of theCOVID-19 relief package Congress passed in December.

So that homework gap has become a full-fledged education gap."

“These inequities have only been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic,” she said.

Closing the digital divide is a key aspect of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion infrastructure plan.

He has proposed the government spend $100 billion to build new infrastructure and to address affordability concerns.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said this is especially important for American students.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit program is temporary and is meant to address broadband affordability during the pandemic.

Rosenworcel said she wouldn’t speculate on whether the program would be extended or whether it might become permanent.

She said that would be up to Congress to decide.

But she said the FCC and the Department of Education plan to study the program and how it works.

For other families in rural and suburban markets, broadband service may be available but unaffordable.

During the pandemic, students without internet service haven’t been able to attend school.

And adults who can’t go into offices have been unable to work remotely.

“We now know that internet access is essential for modern life,” Rosenworcel said.

Policy makers have tried for years to deal with the digital divide.

Congress and the FCC agree that the broadband mapping issue needs to be fixed.

The FCC has moved quickly to get the program up and running.

The agencyvoted unanimously in February to approvethe plan to administer the program.

To confirm eligibility for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program discount, visitgetemergencybroadband.org.

But the company said late Wednesday after the program launched that those plans would no longer be eligible.

Verizon has also announced a plan to help bring digital skills training to rural communities.

This initiative is a part of Verizon’s efforts to support digital inclusion in rural communities.

Since launching in 2011, the program has connected more than 10 million people to the internet.

The company plans to invest $1 billion over the next decade to continue to shut the digital divide.

And all the big providers oppose any hint of potential price regulation on broadband.